Free Republic

Of snipers and guns I hope this column is out of date by the time you read it. But for the moment, as I write, all eyes in the nation are on Maryland and Virginia, watching for the most recent news of the elusive D.C. area sniper. His victims appear to be chosen at random, without regard for politics, religion, race, sex, or age, which makes him very frightening. But more than fear, I feel an intense, overwhelming anger. As a mother, I am enraged beyond all reason when things like this happen. Please understand that under normal circumstances, I...

If I told you my real name, I'd have to kill you. And believe me, as an elite member of Citizen Corps, I have the authority to do just that. Besides, you probably already know my code name: "Cable Guy." I may seem like an ordinary employee of your local cable company, but I'm really a secret agent. I know, I know. You seem to be under the impression that secret agents are supposed to run around in tuxedos, impersonating foreign dignitaries at debutante balls, or sabotaging the doomsday devices of evil geniuses bent on destroying the world. If that's...

<p>As part of the country's war against terrorism, the Bush administration by next month wants to recruit a million letter carriers, utility workers and others whose jobs allow them access to private homes into a contingent of organized government informants. The Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS), a national reporting pilot program, is scheduled to start next month in 10 cities, with 1 million informants — or nearly 4 percent of Americans — initially participating in the program.</p>