Are military snipers sociopaths?

I think so. Yes, they can be good friends and fathers, but they are picking off people like they were video game targets. We are occupying foreign lands people! Yeah, I hate Bush for starting this mess, but the killing goes on and Obama doesn't seem eager to end the war.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272829/Eddie-Ray-Routh-Pictured-The-Marine-PTSD-shot-neighbor-Chris-Kyle-militarys-deadliest-sniper-Texas-gun-range.html#axzz2JmNENJca



• Nice try freeper. Obama won deal with it!!

• PTSD victim on psychopathic ex-sniper violence...now THAT's the reality of America in 2013.

• R1 has a double digit IQ. I loathe Bush/Cheney and an Obama or a Clinton or a Kerry would never have instigated this war. I refuse to honor military snipers.

• [quote]a Clinton or a Kerry would never have instigated this war If you're talking about Afghanistan, the U.S. did not instigate that war.

• bUT Obama is continuing Bush's policies

• I would say, probably.

• Yes, we attacked Afghanistan with some trumped up reason but frankly, we were all fooled by the military industrial complex and they have owned Reagan and every President since then...including Obama, We pretend we live in a democracy, we do not.

• Trumped up? The Taliban ruled Afghanistan. They harbored a terrorist organization which attacked civilian targets in the United States. They refused to surrender the actors. NATO and the Northern Alliance united to fight the Taliban.

• Yes, they are. I'm in the military and I feel that sniper who was just murdered got his just deserts. He liked to focus on saving lives, and he certainly earned his various medals; however, a human being with a conscience could never snuff out the lives of over 150 people and not feel remorse. He was so matter of fact about his former job, it was eerie. I understand there are times when one must defend the lives of their friends and allies, but to turn and capitalize on your actions? Talk about sick and demented.

• And, of course, the sniper said his conscience was clear with God.

• I would agree that some most likely are, however to say that all snipers are sociopaths is a broad generalization. Many do suffer from PTSD, and they're has been a large increase in PTSD cases from drone operators. I heard an interview on NPR with an operator who eventually requested a transfer bc he could no longer stomach the ease and coldness of using drones to kill people from hundreds of miles away. I feel that may people join the military thinking they will feel honor and pride for serving their country. After the reality of all that violence and death sets in, that pride becomes shame and regret. I do not support the war, but have several family members who serve, including a sniper, and are by no means sociopaths. Surprisingly they all vote democrat and are constantly complaining about the mismanagement of the military and its targets. More soldiers feel this way than you'd think and some do work to bring change from within. I think one of the biggest obstacles is the fact that the President is technically commander in chief and can do exactly what Bush did in Iraq. At the time the Iraq war started all I heard from my family in the service was basically "WTF!? we need to be focused on Afghanistan!"

• Francis Pegahmagabow MM & Two Bars, (March 9, 1891 – August 5, 1952) was the First Nations soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I. Three times awarded the Military Medal and seriously wounded, he was an expert marksman and scout, credited with killing 378 Germans and capturing 300 more.[2] Later in life, he served as chief and a councilor for the Wasauksing First Nation, and as an activist and leader in several First Nations organizations. He corresponded with and met other noted aboriginal figures including Fred Loft, Jules Sioui, Andrew Paull and John Tootoosis.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Pegahmagabow

• Yes, of course. A professional sniper who touts his experience as a record-breaking killer decides that the best cure for traumatic war experience is to have the fucked-up guy go shoot a gun. Well, BANG BANG, asshole. RIP, of course, but isn't there something in your bible about what happens to those who live by the sword?

• I know it seems weird to some, r13, but many of these men have had long association with firearms and shooting that predated their military experience so, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, getting them back to something they once enjoyed is part of the therapy. Anyway, the murderer's mom thought it was a good idea, and remember, there is still a lot we don't know.

• The shooter of the sniper will be charged with capital murder, but if he has a PTSD diagnosis, I bet he gets off. I know why so many of our soldiers have PTSD ...drum roll...they know it's wrong to kill people and that's what they're doing, under occupied conditions. The military continues to pump money into mental health for vets when they should just cease killing in aggressive wars.

• . . . and the Republicans wouldn't fund the army enough to provide treatment for soldiers with PTSD.

• Gayface for days.