Strategies for the Hired Gun
Etymologically, the phrase ‘assassin’ originates from the Arabic ‘hashshashin’ which referred to a group of militant Islamic killers in the medieval Middle East. In these older times, the ‘assassin’ would go alone and commonly kill by cutting victims, including bodyguards with a sword or short blade before vanishing into the crowd. As a result of their ‘hidden in plain sight’ way of life, the first assassins were feared by society as they are by many people today.
The invention of new advanced and highly effective long-range weapons and firearms means that in current times, it can be difficult to prevent a determined hired killer. Indeed, being able to fire on targets from farther away dramatically increases the assassins’ potential survival rate.
So, we start to build a picture of the modern derivative of the medieval hashshashin as an expert killer, loner and user of firearms. Still, there is much more to being a hitman than wielding a gun. Today’s assassin also has to think about exit routes, discretion and personal safety.
When it comes to getaway routes, most modern hired guns will not enter a building without scouting the location first to find the most effective exfiltration strategies. Without a doubt, it’s good to be handy at reading maps and architectural schematics.
When it comes to discretion, bold sniper tactics can allow assassins concealment and most likely an easy getaway. Some go for a more personal approach which may involve poisoning or suffocation, however, as being a sniper requires hours of tuition. Still some popular tactics waive discretion and attract a great deal more attention, particularly the use of explosives.
A wave of accusations were made against the Russian authorities who, in 2006 were thought to have given a lethal dose of radioactive polonium-210 to Alexander Litvinenko. This substance was possibly passed to him in aerosol and sprayed directly onto his food. After citing persecution in Russia, Litvinenko, a former KGB agent had been given asylum in the UK six years earlier. Shortly before his death, he gave a statement accusing contemporary President of Russia Vladimir Putin of involvement in the poisoning. This case surely shows that poison does not definitely equal discretion.
Finally, personal safety is an important issue for all hired guns as they can not accept work or may be caught by police if they themselves are injured. Basic techniques for avoiding self damage include wearing protective body armour, choosing good exit lines, strategies and regular training.
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Tags: Assassin, History of Assassination, Training
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