Inside the Civilian Sniper Culture

Oct. 12 -- Few Americans are aware of a mysterious world that teaches civilians how to master the deadly sniper art — and it's only mouse clicks away.

Through videos and Web sites, civilian snipers have attracted a cult following.

"'One shot, one kill' is the slogan of the sniper," said Tom Diaz of the Violence Policy Center.

A series of sniper shootings — eight of them fatal — in the Washington, D.C, region has area residents living in fear — which is exactly the way the sniper wants it.

"There is a subculture, there is a civilian subculture in this country dedicated to the fulfillment of that proposition," said Diaz.

Sniper Glorification

Through the Violence Policy Center, a national nonprofit organization working to fight gun violence, Diaz has been monitoring the sniper culture for years. He has been collecting evidence of what he calls the glorification of the sniper.

This evidence includes training videos that teach people how to build high-powered rifles and use them with devastating effect.

In addition, Diaz has collected dozens of books with menacing titles and pictures. There are also Web sites, he says, that recount the heroic work of military snipers and also advertise for sniper training.

Historically, members of the military and police forces have taken sniper-training courses, but it wasn't a civilian pastime. In the last 10 years, however, special sniper courses have been open to the public — to anyone who can afford to sign up.

'Killing Human Beings'

Peter Tarley, an expert sniper who has been teaching courses for police departments and the military for years, says he understands what attracts some civilians to the sniper world, although he refuses to teach them.

"It maybe shocking to the average American to know that there are training schools that civilians can go to," Tarley said. "There are Web sites, all of which teach this doctrine: 'one shot, one kill.' … And we're not talking about shooting woodchucks, we're talking about killing human beings."