Dallas shooter used military skills for murder

[struggle4progress]

By Sue Ambrose, Holly K. Hacker and Steve Thompson
Published: 08 July 2016 10:32 PM
Updated: 09 July 2016 10:45 AM

... officials said Friday that a search of his home in Mesquite had turned up "bomb-making materials, ballistic vests, rifles, ammunition and a personal journal of combat tactics." They said he was described as a loner.

Johnson told police he had been training for the deadly ambush; one neighboring family said Friday that he had been performing what looked like military training exercises in his yard ...

One family friend said Johnson had changed when he returned from overseas.

"He was withdrawn, didn't want to talk to people anymore, didn't believe in God anymore," said Myrtle Booker, 62, who knew his mother through church.His interest in guns had grown, she said ...

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20160708-ousted-from-army-dallas-shooter-used-military-skills-for-murder.ece

[onehandle]

1. Time to register all guns and their owners. Require annual tests and re-registration.

They must have insurance and their names, every gun, clip, and bullet available in a public database.

Well regulate them.

[Duckhunter935]

2. And this would have changed what?

As far as we know. He was not a prohibited person and was very capable with his weapons. Would what you have called for make any difference?

[Rex]

3. Banning assault weapons might have helped keep him away from them or make it harder to get.

Kinda common sense.

[Duckhunter935]

5. That is not what the OP posted about

[Rex]

7. Yes and your reply was not to the OP. Nice dodge but fail.

I understand, you have no retort to my answer.

[JonathanRackham]

38. Actually he was responding to the previous failed post.

[Rex]

56. Oh are you here to speak for him?

[JonathanRackham]

61. Pointing out the errors and facts.

[Rex]

64. Sure sure.

[Duckhunter935]

69. Good comeback

[Rex]

70. Thanks I know.

[Eleanors38]

130. Yes, the last ban worked great for 10 years!

[Rex]

131. Right. We should do nothing. Thanks for playing.

[Duckhunter935]

133. How about things that do work

[Eleanors38]

179. Rex, you seem satisfied with anything what sticks on the wall. Trouble is...

another crappy (non) Ban is worse than meaningless. It is a signal that portions of the Democratic Party WILL pursue ANY kind of legislation to ban and restrict, and those pro-2A groups you love to hate WILL double down to defeat those Democrats and carve out even more chunks of the country so the Grand Old Potty can redistrict itself into "permanent power." Worse, your approach will further discredit the notion that government can work fot the benefit of all by passing credible legislation which deals with widespread problems and societal breakdowns.

Your approach seems like gratuitous taunting at best, and destructive to generations of progressive/liberal thought at worst.

[Rex]

184. Well your opinion has been noted.

Just do nothing, the rest of us will figure out a solution.

[Eleanors38]

187. I have offered ways of dealing with violence in the 10+ years I have been on DU...

Most controllers do not like them, or refuse to even acknowledge them because they don't deal with the central component of gun-control: Pohibitions of firearms.

[Rex]

4. Just get rid of assault weapons, there is no good justification for having them for civilian use.

IMO.

[Duckhunter935]

6. The SKS has a fixed 10 round magazine

Functionally the same as the murderers weapon, by definition not an assault weapon. Reloaded very quickly with stripper clips.

[Rex]

8. You are confusing assault weapons and assault rifles.

Clearly he had an assault weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

10. No, I am not

If he had a semi-automatic SKS with removable magazines and certain cosmetic features it may have been classified as an assault weapon. IIf you have an SKS that has a 10 round fixed magazines can be quickly reloaded with stripper clips, it is by definition NOT an assault weapon. Functionally the same rifle. An assault rifle is not only semi-automatic but select fire, full auto or burst fire capable and not manufactured for civilian purchase since 1986. An assault rifle is super expensive and requires additional background checks and additional taxes but can be owned by civilians, they are not used in crimes.

[Rex]

11. I'm afraid so.

[Duckhunter935]

17. Then explain why, bet you can not

[Rex]

19. Just did down thread.

Sorry for your fail.

[Duckhunter935]

23. What post?

[Rex]

26. 18

[Duckhunter935]

35. You did not, that is the definition of assault weapon.

You accused me of not knowing the difference of assault weapon and assault rifle. Tell me what was incorrect in my post please.

[Rex]

37. See post 34.

[Adrahil]

188. The SKS....

Was not covered by the 94 AWB.

[aikoaiko]

127. A standard SKS doesn't meet the assault weapon definition of any proposed laws or the 1994 AWB

It might have been modifed where it would meet the definition.

For example, the standard SKS is not illegal to own in the assault weapon hating state of California.

[Rex]

128. What do we do about modified weapons?

Current theory is he modified the thing into an assault weapon. How do we stop that? Me personally, I think we were fucked the day firearms started using interchangeable parts.

[Adrahil]

189. So, about 1850? ;)

[GeorgeGist]

15. Which waters the tree of liberty faster?

[Marengo]

14. What is the definition of "assault weapon"?

[Rex]

18. Here ya go.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon

Assault weapon is a term used in the United States to define some types of firearms.[1] The definition varies among regulating jurisdictions, but usually includes semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magazine and a pistol grip, and sometimes other features such as a flash suppressor or barrel shroud.[1][2

[Marengo]

25. Was his SKS detachable magazine fed? I've not been following that closely.

[Rex]

27. Yes he had clips for the weapon.

[Marengo]

36. Not to be pedantic, but were they clips or magazines. Different feed devices.

An important distinction.

[Rex]

41. The were quick clips, it might be an old weapon but it is still an assault weapon.

[Marengo]

53. Magazines, as in the type of feed device used by the AK-47? Base model SKS uses 10 round clips...

The rounds being pushed by thumb pressure down into the fixed magazine after the bottom of the clip is fitted into a slot in the bolt carrier.

[Rex]

58. Evidently he has a modified assault weapon.

Figures.

[Travis_0004]

138. Stripper clips?

That make something an assault weapon?

[Duckhunter935]

28. Yep an SKS

With a fixed magazine that was standard with the weapon is not an assault weapon. It is quickly reloaded using stripper clips and functions identically as the rigles that would be classified as an assault weapon.

[Rex]

30. Right it had clips thanks again for saying so.

It was an assault weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

39. It appears the model of SKS he used

Used removable magazines, not stripper clips.

[Rex]

43. Well magazines makes it an assault weapon. Clips maybe not so much.

Thanks for the information.

[Duckhunter935]

47. And the function of the rifle is the same

Removable or fixed magazine.

[Rex]

49. Yes as an assault weapon, thanks.

[Duckhunter935]

57. Not if it had a fixed magazine

Fully legal even in California that has had an assault weapons ban for decades

[Rex]

59. You said he didn't have a fixed magazine, make up your mind.

[Duckhunter935]

67. Lol, I said it appears that he had a rifle with removable magazines

But the SKS type of rifle is also available with a fixed magazine that makes it NOT an assault weapon. Functionally they are identical, both semi-automatic rifles.

[Rex]

72. But he was using a modified assault weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

74. Never said that, you did

[Rex]

76. Yes and?

You said he used quick clips then you said he used a magazine. He used a modified assault weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

87. Please read my posts

I never sad he used clips. As we really do not know as the weapon has not been produced.

[Rex]

89. You did, but hey you are not really paying attention right?

[Duckhunter935]

92. I am , you must like me, lol

[Rex]

95. I like that you keep contradicting yourself and don't know what an assault weapon is.

[Marengo]

42. Clips and magazines are different feed devices, and in terms of defining whether or not...

The SKS is an assault weapon, technical accuracy is crucial.

[Rex]

46. I thought he used clips, but up thread someone else said he used magazines

So it was a modified assault weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

52. It appears that model used removable magazines

The original SKS used a fixed magazine and was reloaded via stripper clips. There are many variants of the SKS model by several manufacturers.

[Rex]

54. So he had a modified assault weapon.

Figures.

[Duckhunter935]

60. Probably not

There are different models of the SKS type of rifle, both fixed and removable magazines.

[Rex]

62. Probably so.

[Marengo]

66. Ah, that makes sense. There were several models of SKS imported from China modified for detachable..

Magazines, but the base model has a fixed internal magazine. There are a variety of after market magazines designed to replace the factory fixed with larger capacity, but there have been considerable reliability issues.

[Rex]

68. Interchangeable parts makes it easy to modify a weapon.

I know it is an old weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

71. May or may not have been an old rifle

The design is old indeed.

[Rex]

73. Probably was vintage.

[Duckhunter935]

96. We do not know

[Rex]

98. Not true, you said he did not have an assault weapon.

So now you admit to just making stuff up? Okay.

[Duckhunter935]

107. I believe I said IF

he used aan SKS type rifle that had a removable magazine and certain other features it could have been an assault weapon. IF that weapon he was using had the fixed magazine, it would not have been an assault weapon.both weapons function identically. Of course we really do not know the type or model he used.

[Rex]

109. So this is all pure speculation?

[Duckhunter935]

119. Pretty much at the moment

Facts usually change in the type of weapon. The Navy yard shooting was not done by an AR-15 as first reported. The Orlando murders were not by an AR-15 as first reported. Hell, I still have not found out the caliber of that rifle that was used in Orlando.

[Rex]

123. It Orlando shooting was an assault weapon.

It takes all of 10 seconds on google to find the correct weapon used.

[Duckhunter935]

132. It was first reported as an AR-15

It was not and the weapon type identified comes in a variety of calibers. Do tell me which caliber if is do easy.

[Duckhunter935]

20. A semi-automatic rifle

With s removable magazine and certain other features. Have a fixed magazine and it is not an assault weapon.

[Rex]

24. Right the weapon used in the Dallas shooting was an assault weapon.

Thanks for saying so in another reply.

[Duckhunter935]

33. I said if it had a removable magazine and

Certain other features it could be classified as an assault weapon. That is true. I also stated the same rifle with a fixed magazine that I'd quickly reloaded via stripper clips is not an assault weapon. Again a true statement.

[Rex]

34. Yes you keep contradicting yourself, but already admitted it was an assault weapon.

Thanks.

[Duckhunter935]

45. Yes I have said many times now

If the SKS model he used had removable magazines and other features it would be an assault weapon. I have also stated the exact same rifle with a fixed magazine loaded with stripper clips would NOT be an assault weapon. I have never said it was an assault rifle.thst was you bringing that term into the thread.

[Rex]

48. Your post 39 contradicts what you just typed.

You again admit he has an assault weapon.

[Duckhunter935]

75. Nope, been very consistent

But thanks for trying

[Rex]

78. Not at all, just don't edit #39.

I like that you contradict yourself and didn't notice.

[Duckhunter935]

88. I plan not to and if I did

Edits are available for all to see

[Rex]

90. Good.

[Duckhunter935]

103. Nothing wrong with that post

It does APPEAR from what we know know he used a rifle that has been identified as an SKS type rifle that used removable magazines and was not reloaded using stripper clips.

[Rex]

104. If you say so.

[Duckhunter935]

108. I did twice, thank you

[Rex]

110. If you say so, twice.

[oneshooter]

181. This is a SKS witout a removable magazine. It is loaded with 10shot stripper clips.

The bayonet is removable and many states do not allow it to be mounted.

[JonathanRackham]

40. How will carpenters pound nails?

[Rex]

50. With a hammer, a nail gun is right out.

[JonathanRackham]

55. Screw.......

Gun.

[Marengo]

83. Why a public database? Wouldn't that increase the possibility of theft?

[Duckhunter935]

94. Yes, but some do not seem to care

[Marengo]

116. That, and perhaps the goal is harassment and increased exposure to danger.

[name not needed]

163. We should probably listen in on their phonecalls and monitor their internet use as well.

You can never be too safe.

[Rex]

9. Time to bad assault weapons, there is no reason for them to be in civilian hands. nt

nt

[Duckhunter935]

13. So you want door to door

Confiscation to get rid of the.millions in private hands that have done nothing wrong. Go for it.

[Rex]

16. LOL. Nice fail, I said ban as in don't sell them anymore.

Your answers fail you.

[Duckhunter935]

21. So leave the millions out there, ok

That will stop the next person bent on murder like this asshole.

YOU did say civilians should not own them, moving the goalposts?

[Rex]

22. It might help stop, you don't seem to care much about prevention.

Then again, that is on you not me.

[Duckhunter935]

79. Might, right

I have posted many times my ideas. I know you have seen them

[Rex]

81. Might, right...exactly.

Thanks for agreeing.

[TexasProgresive]

12. My Dad was an army vet who became a psychologist.

He spent a large part of his career counseling Vietnam vets. He was amazed that they never completely snapped and did something like Johnson. They were so filled with anger at the government that sent them half way around the world to kill or be killed for no real good reason. I know many Nam vets don't feel that way, but maybe finding pride in what they did has let them cope with the horror. And we do tend to remember the good things of long ago better than the bad things. That's why some of us oldsters hanker for the "good ole days."

[sarisataka]

29. So what to do

About all those folks who have military skills from their time in the military?

[Rex]

32. Nothing, just ban the sale of assault weapons, it would be a start.

As opposed to just sitting around talking about it.

[JonathanRackham]

44. More murders are done with handguns.

[Rex]

51. But most mass murders are done with assault weapons.

[Lonusca]

97. Should we be focusing on mass murders

or overall murders?

If we are going to expend a huge amount of political capital, shouldn't we go after the one that that is more destructive?

[Rex]

101. Okay you have convinced me, we go after both then.

No more sales of firearms of any type.

[Duckhunter935]

111. Go for it

[Rex]

112. Go for what?

[Duckhunter935]

114. Ban all weapons

Just responding to your post

[Rex]

117. Of course you are.

[Duckhunter935]

122. Yes I was, you have an issue with that

[Rex]

124. Pure projection on your part.

[Lonusca]

121. Good winning strategy. nt

[hack89]

100. Can you prove that?

I suspect handguns are used in more mass shooting .

[Naruto Uzimaki]

63. You sound like a broken record

everyone stopped listening to after the second time you repeated your post.

[Rex]

65. Thanks for the wasted reply.

Wrong. Everyone is still listening.

[Duckhunter935]

85. Not really

[Rex]

86. Yeah you are still replying.

So fail again?

[sarisataka]

77. There lies the rub

As others point out, what constitutes an assault weapon? An unmodified SKS did not fall under the '94 AWB but a one modified to have a removable magazine would.

Or do we paraphrase Justice Stewart- 'I cannot define an assault weapon but I know one when I see one'

[Rex]

80. No rub, the shooter used a modified assault weapon.

Ban assault weapons that can be modified.

[sarisataka]

99. Under the '94 legal definition

An unmodified SKS was not an assault weapon.

Banning 'modified' guns is a different can of worms. Is my .223 bolt action rifle 'modified' because I put a scope on it?

To come up with an effective assault weapon law will require technical knowledge and precise terminology. Exactly the things many gun control advocates pride themselves on being ignorant.

[Rex]

102. Just ban weapons that can be turned into assault weapons. Easy.

Not like they are needed for hunting or home protection.

[sarisataka]

105. And again

That will require knowledge of firearms...

[Rex]

106. Well with all the experts in this thread, I have a feeling that is not a problem in RL.

[sarisataka]

118. Taking the role

Of devil's advocate I pose the question-

Why should any of the tiny penis, gun humping, ammosexual, potential terrorist, racist cowards offer to help? It is their knowledge of firearms that has caused these epithets to be labeled on them?

[Rex]

120. No it is their use of these weapons to massacre innocent people.

So they get called all kinds of names. Haven't you noticed? IF firearms were not used to kill thousands of people each year - there would probably less insults toward these maniacs that like to kill thousands of people a year with firearms.

I don't expect any help from gun hoarders, they have severe mental issues imo that require professional help.

[sarisataka]

125. I must respectfully dispute

The notion that these terms have only been directed towards those who massacred innocent people. They have been broadly applied.

I am no mental health expert but I do believe hoarding is a sign of mental illness. Yet there are collectors of many things including firearms so I do not believe owning many versions of something is an immediate sign of mental illness.

[Rex]

126. I think some of it is projection, by folks that don't notice at all.

I always find it interesting when a label is so vehemently opposed by people that it was never applied to. Guilty conscience? I see it about a lot more then just firearms.

[sarisataka]

129. Sometimes true

I do not consider such terms apply to myself even though I have acquired a professional knowledge of firearms and continue to own more than one.

I am sure you have seen such wide spread insult such as 'gun humping cowards that cannot leave the house without a gun stuffed down their pants.' or 'only an ammosexual needs a gun to go to _____. People who have CCW are not uncommon and it takes no projection to see that these are directed towards them.

I must also point out, such terms were not used to refer to Philandro Castile, even though he chose to become licensed and carried a conceled firearm.

[Rex]

134. I dunno I get the feeling people think others are talking about them

because they relate in some way to the message. I've never once thought of anyone here as a gun humper-ammosexual etc.. Most people imo when they talk of that are talking about the folks that like to go out and murder people with assault weapons and own thousands of firearms and an untold number of bullets.

Hoarding is a mental illness, hoarding firearms makes it doubly dangerous imo.

[Duckhunter935]

137. You are not the only one that uses those insults

[Rex]

141. Right and I can only speak for myself, just like you can only speak for yourself.

Right?

[Duckhunter935]

145. That is why I do not use terms that are used for

Insults. You might try the same sometime.

[Rex]

147. Insults to whom? You seem to think someone is talking about you?

Seriously? You are a nobody on an website, just like me. How curious you feel that way.

[sarisataka]

140. Work calls

But the civil conversation has been good. We may have staunchly different views on the cause of the problem and solutions but by communicating rather than accusing we may find middle ground is not as unreachable as it seems.

[Rex]

142. Have a good day at work!

Yes I agree 100%. And I am glad we both knows where the other stands on the subject.

[Duckhunter935]

136. I love your last point

Well stated

[Duckhunter935]

135. My weapons have harmed not a living thing

Since I owned them. Not sure about my bolt action military weapons have never killed anyone as they have been to war. I have been called those names and worse. Care to update your statement?

[Rex]

143. Are you someone that hoards guns and has fanatical ideas about our government?

Care to retract your statement?

[Duckhunter935]

146. What statement?

I own firearms and have been called a gun humpers and ammosexual and worse. I have no fear of the government as I have worked for it since 1985.

[Rex]

148. So you self identify with those terms?

Interesting. I would have thought nobody here was like that.

[Duckhunter935]

150. No they have been directed at me several times

Most times they have been correctly hidden after being alerted on.

[Rex]

152. I gotcha, I let insults roll down my back.

Then again everyone has different sensitivity levels. I can promise you I personally will never call you those insults. Nor will I call anyone here those names. I see being a Dem and being a gun hoarder as mutually exclusive. Just me though.

[Duckhunter935]

159. But a dem

Can own firearms, correct. A dem can also have different viewpoints then you also, am I right?

[Rex]

161. Sure - just not hoard guns an want to kill people, you agree with that too I would surmise?

Or not?

[Duckhunter935]

165. I do not think anyone should have firearms

That wants to kill people. Some people collect firearms, mine are about 50% antiques.

[Rex]

166. Then we agree.

Now we just need to figure out how to keep people that want to kill other people with firearms, from doing so.

[Duckhunter935]

168. That is always the big problem

And that would be all firearms, not just so called assault weapons.

[Rex]

171. Well then if we do nothing, then the number of weapons just continues to pile up.

Maybe we can't do anything in a mass consumer nation like America.

[Duckhunter935]

172. We definitely can improve background checks

And mental health. Not to mention tighten and heavily enforce current laws. But those are just NRA talking points

[Rex]

173. Good luck, now you are going to get accused of being soft on gun control.

Can't bring up mental health that seems to be taboo.

[Duckhunter935]

174. Not really, you will find most here

believe in that. Of course you would also see we are dismissed and insulted for saying that. That just might be where I get a little thin skinned when you go around with the gun humper, ammosexual bullshit.

[Rex]

175. I believe that.

[oneshooter]

182. When have I ever used these weapons as you say I did?

"No it is their use of these weapons to massacre innocent people."

[Rex]

185. LOL! As if anyone was talking about you!

Wow, some folks here think the world works only at their say so.

[Duckhunter935]

82. So an SKS style weapon with a fixed magazine

Quickly reloaded with stripper clips would be OK. Nice to know.

[Rex]

84. Why you need it to go deer hunting?

[Duckhunter935]

91. That is not the only reason for a weapon

[Rex]

93. But we are not talking about just any weapon.

Stop moving the goalposts. You need an SKS to kill a deer?

[Duckhunter935]

113. Firearms are not owned to just shoot DEER

The hundreds of thousands of SKS type of rifles in civilian hands are used legally for other purposes.

[Rex]

115. Oh right, they are used to shoot and massacre people as well.

Thanks for reminding me!

[Travis_0004]

139. Maybe because he wants to?

Maybe he want some meat to feed his family.

Does it really matter. Deer are overpopulated here, somebody needs to keep them in check. I would rather some hunters buy permits which helps fund the parks and wildlife department.

[Rex]

144. Yes it does matter, you just want to protect your sport.

I get it.

[Travis_0004]

149. Ive never hunted before in my life

[Duckhunter935]

151. Funny, I do not hunt either

[Rex]

153. LOL! Well I guess you need to change your username.

[Duckhunter935]

156. Why, it has nothing to do with hunting

It has to do with my 30+ years as a soldier and now a civilian in army air defense. Knowledge is power.

[Rex]

157. Right.

If you say so. I guess someone with the name Duckhunter would never hunt game

[Duckhunter935]

162. Never hunted, do not care for taste of deer

Did have some moose up in Alaska that was quite good. But another guy I knew provided it. Spent enough time in the field in the military. I go to the store for food and stay in hotels when I am on vacation.

[Rex]

164. So you just hunted military ducks for 30 years?

Interesting name for a non-hunter.

[Duckhunter935]

167. Nope, I repaired radar systems

I never manned the van to monitor and fire on anyone. Actually Patriot and THAAD are used for missile defense and not against aircraft. That is what the Air Force is for.

[Rex]

170. I C now - I was a ground surveillance system operator, I get the duck part now.

Turn on the radar and duck!

[Igel]

180. Google says "duckhunter"

is just "Army slang for someone in the Air Defense function."

Probably uses "duck" as metaphor for any bogey. The "hunter" part follows.

Gee, that took 5 seconds. With no ill-will or hostility, just thinking, "Maybe there's something I don't know."

[Rex]

183. Is that a first for you?

That last line, thanks for playing.

[Travis_0004]

154. I did blast a few ducks back in '89

I didnt want to shoot them, but I was forced to. If I missed that damn dog would laugh at me.

[Rex]

155. Oh?

That is not what you told be before. Okay if you say so.

[Travis_0004]

158. Its good to know Im important enough that you keep tabs on me.

[Rex]

160. Just remember a conversation where you made fun of my lack of knowledge.

And gosh! There was duckhunter (not a real hunter) to admonish you for being crabby with me! So that was just a cool story...good to know.

[Duckhunter935]

169. Yep, I am not a real hunter

Glad to have informed you of that fact

[Xipe Totec]

31. Blowback. nt

[DustyJoe]

176. Ban assault weapons in the military .. that'll show em n/t

[malaise]

177. War what is it good for

Absofuckinglutely nothing!!!

[SuperDutyTX]

178. I doubt military skills...

I doubt his military training had much to do with any of this. His MOS was 12W (Carpenter/Mason); his Army training in pistols/rifles likely didn't consist of much more than what he learned in basic, and any re-qualifications. He also wouldn't have been taught firefighting tactics etc.

Not exactly an Infantryman.

[Rex]

186. He would have learned basic combat tactics.

Good enough.