“Suicide by cop” is how most law enforcement officers describe it when a disturbed person wishes to die, but instead of taking his or her own life chooses instead to provoke an armed standoff and force police officers to use deadly force.
An example is an incident that occurred Tulsa, Oklahoma where Timothy Casey, who “struggled with alcoholism and bi-polar disease”, forced a three hour standoff with police. “Then Casey came out of his apartment armed with a .50 caliber rifle with a scope on it and pointed it at officers. Police fired, killing Casey,” according to a local TV station.
Despite the tragic consequences of Casey’s death, the incident could have been much worse if Casey fired at police officers with his .50 caliber rifle. He also had a scope for his sniper rifle mind you.
It’s terrifying to think what might have happened if an officer was shot with such a devastating weapon. It’s ours, and certainly every officer’s worst nightmare. A weapon designed to shoot down civilian aircraft during takeoff and landing would devastate and rip apart a person’s body if shot by one of these powerful weapons.
So the question is why are these weapons of war available on the civilian market? Secondly, why is an “ex-con fighting demons in his life” in possession of the most powerful sniper rifle available on the civilian market?
Another law abiding gun owner? Of course the gun lobby says that no crimes are committed with .50 caliber sniper rifles.
The gun lobby is clearly lying. The Violence Policy Center lists some of the criminal uses of the .50 caliber sniper rifle. Now they have another chilling incident to add their list.
Of course, lost in this sad story is the fact that Timothy Casey leaves behind his wife, a son and two young daughters. According to the news story he “had just gotten his welder’s certification and who was going to church to try to find his way.”
If only Casey had been able to cope with his “demons” and receive professional help and services this tragedy might have been averted. If only.
And now we’re left to ask “what if” a .50 caliber sniper rifle is used in a terrorist attack or to kill a law enforcement officer?
Considering the sheer proliferation of .50 caliber sniper rifles without virtually any controls or regulations, maybe the right question is, sadly, not “if” but “when” a horrific event will occur.
NOTE & CORRECTION: Early news reports indicated that Timothy Casey used a .50 caliber rifle with a scope that we incorrectly labeled as a “.50 caliber ‘sniper‘ rifle. In subsequent reporting the news media identified Casey’s .50 caliber rifle as a “black powder” rifle similar to a “Civil War era” type gun.
Although we acknowledge the mistake, nonetheless Mr. Casey did in fact aim a powerful .50 caliber “black powder” rifle at police officers with the intent to shoot them.
Secondly, .50 caliber sniper rifles still posed a grave terrorist threat to America’s national security, which no one can dispute.
