Democracy was invented in America and taken to England in 1215 thru a program of regular networking .

Hi there IS MISE...

You're absolutely correct my friend ! A well placed head shot, which is calculated to achieve a 'non-reflex kill', is highly desirable, to ensure all hostages are protected therein, as you would know IS MISE. I'm sure during your long years of service, both as an Army and later, a civilain armourer, you would've prepared and bedded many military Sniper weapon systems, for the Oz Army.

For the readership to understand what a 'non-reflex kill' represents - when hostages are held, usually by someone armed with a F/A, it's vital the Sniper removes the 'immediate threat' by ensuring the 'Primary Hostage Taker'(PHT) is instantly neutralised. In order to achieve this outcome, the Sniper must try to sever/destroy the Medulla Oblongata (located at the base of the cerebral cortex).

Access to the Medulla O, may be accomplished by placing a round roughly through the mouth of the offender (PHT) when facing you, or at the base of the skull, when his back is showing. Any of these 'points of impact' will provide the same result.

A 'non-reflux' kill, is like switching off a light switch. Sometimes an offender may have a nervous reflex action when shot, even though he may be momentarily dead. Apparently it's been shown, an offender may still possess the presence of mind, to still squeeze the trigger, killing his hostage, albeit he's expired before he's even hit the ground. When the Medulla Oblongata is severed or destroyed, it amounts to a non-reflex kill and there's no danger of this occurring.

In 1987 I took part in the FBI Sniper's School, in the United States. An interesting statistic emerged, the average range where an offender has been taken, by a law-enforcement sniper, was about 72 yards ! I was absolutely stunned to hear that, considering the training, the cost and sophistication of a Sniper's Weapon System ? The size of the Medulla Oblongata in an adult, is about the size of a plum.

Hi to you too LOUDMOUTH...

Wow I'm impressed at your ability to produce such brilliant lyrics in your recent recitation, many thanks for that Joe !

Just a couple of things concerning Chemical Agents Vs Man MONIS. Traditional Agents are meant as dispersal tools for Law-enforcement. As such would be totally inappropriate for the Lindt Cafe situation.

With the agent DM, everyone hits the deck, whether they wish to or not. For this reason DM is 'generally' unavailable to police such as it's severity. That said, it may still prove a better option then people being killed with F/A's ?

Is it possible that in the heat of lethal danger a plum could be missed when both shooter and target are moving? The truck at Nice showed a splatter of shots over the windscreen. Wild West 6gun shots often missed unless the survivor took time to line up and aim properly. Snipers couldn't get a clear shot at Lindt cafe. Theory is good but needs a co-operative target.

The perp at the Lyndt Cafe was thought to be carrying explosives so there was no question of him being shot by a police marksman, not until it could be guaranteed that such was not the case.
The set up seen on TY, looking through the two windows, was just that, TV.

Hi O Sung Wu,

It's been nagging at me for hours, but I must confess that I didn't write those lyrics: a bloke named Bill Gilbert knocked them out in a saloon bar while his mate Art Sullivan banged out a tune on an old piano. It was basically a tribute to some of the lags they knew inside. They were putting it all together for a gig called "Pirates of Penzance".

But I suspect you already knew that :)

Cheers,

Joe