Editing Sniper (section)

===Psychological warfare===
[[File:USMC Sniper M24.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Special Reaction Teams|Special Reaction Team]] with an [[M24 Sniper Weapon System]] in 2004]]
Due to the surprise nature of sniper fire, high lethality of aimed shots and frustration at the inability to locate and counterattack snipers, sniper tactics have a significant negative effect on morale. Extensive use of sniper tactics can be used to induce constant stress and fear in opposing forces, making them afraid to move about or leave cover. In many ways, the psychological impact imposed by snipers is quite similar to those of [[landmines]], [[booby-trap]]s, and [[Improvised explosive device|IEDs]] (constant threat, high "per event" lethality, inability to strike back).<ref name="MastHalberstadt2007_2">{{cite book|author1=Gregory Mast|author2=Hans Halberstadt|title=To Be a Military Sniper|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A64US-2Em2YC&pg=PA22|access-date=12 July 2013|date=January 2007|publisher=Zenith Imprint|isbn=978-0-7603-3002-9|page=22}}</ref><ref name="Halberstadt2008">{{cite book|author=Hans Halberstadt|title=Trigger Men: Shadow Team, Spider-Man, the Magnificent Bastards, and the American Combat Sniper|url=https://archive.org/details/triggermenshadow0000halb|url-access=registration|access-date=12 July 2013|date=18 March 2008|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-35472-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/triggermenshadow0000halb/page/29 29]}}</ref><ref name="Pegler2011">{{cite book|author=Martin Pegler|title=Out of Nowhere: A history of the military sniper, from the Sharpshooter to Afghanistan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COCIaPM2_ksC&pg=PA21|access-date=12 July 2013|date=20 September 2011|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84908-875-6|page=21}}</ref>

Historically, captured snipers are often [[summary execution|summarily executed]]. This happened during World War I<ref name="firstworldwar.com">{{cite web |date= 22 August 2009 |url = http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/snipers.htm|title = Encyclopedia – Snipers|publisher = firstworldwar.com| access-date=10 May 2010 | last=Duffy| first= Michael }}</ref> and World War II;<ref name="theregister.co.uk.2008.11.28">{{cite web |date= 28 November 2008|url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/28/sniper_feature/page2.html|title = Snipers – Cowardly assassins, or surgical soldiers?|website = The Register| access-date=10 May 2010 | last=Page | first= Lewis }}</ref> for example, the second [[Biscari massacre#Compton Incident|Biscari Massacre]] was when 36 suspected snipers were lined up and executed on 14 July 1943.

As a result, if a sniper is in imminent danger of capture, he may discard any items (sniper rifle, laser rangefinder, etc.) which might indicate his status as a sniper. The risk of captured snipers being summarily executed is explicitly referred to in Chapter 6 of US Army doctrine document FM 3-060.11 entitled "SNIPER AND COUNTERSNIPER TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES":

{{blockquote|Historically, units that suffered heavy and continual casualties from urban sniper fire and were frustrated by their inability to strike back effectively often have become enraged. Such units may overreact and violate the laws of land warfare concerning the treatment of captured snipers. This tendency is magnified if the unit has been under the intense stress of urban combat for an extended time. It is vital that commanders and leaders at all levels understand the law of land warfare and understand the psychological pressures of urban warfare. It requires strong leadership and great moral strength to prevent soldiers from releasing their anger and frustration on captured snipers or civilians suspected of sniping at them.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}|}}

The negative reputation and perception of snipers can be traced back to the [[American Revolution]], when American "Marksmen" intentionally targeted British officers, an act considered uncivilized by the British Army at the time (this reputation was cemented during the [[Battle of Saratoga]], when [[Benedict Arnold]] allegedly ordered his marksmen to target British General [[Simon Fraser of Balnain (general)|Simon Fraser]], an act that won the battle and French support).<ref name="Senich p. "/>{{page needed|date=February 2018}} The British side used specially selected sharpshooters as well, often German [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessians]].<ref name="Senich p. "/>{{page needed|date=February 2018}}

To further demoralize enemy troops, snipers sometimes follow predictable patterns. During the [[26th of July Movement]] in the [[Cuban Revolution]], the revolutionaries led by [[Fidel Castro]] always killed the foremost man in a group of President [[Fulgencio Batista|Batista]]'s soldiers.{{Verify source|date=October 2008}} Realizing this, none of Batista's men would walk first, as it was suicidal. This effectively decreased the army's willingness to search for rebel bases in the forests and mountains. An alternative approach to this psychological process is to kill the second man in the row, leading to the psychological effect of nobody wanting to follow the "leader".