America's morbid fascination with violence is feeding the beast. (Commentary).

"How could someone do that?" a friend of mine asked. "How does someone get so sick?"

He was talking about the sniper who has been systematically killing innocent people in Maryland and Virginia, stalking them in their everyday acts, then shooting them as they put gas in their car or mow their lawn.

"He's just picking them off, like target practice," my friend said. "What could possibly make a person that twisted?"

I thought about that as I headed home. I thought how only someone truly demented would be attracted to such random, unprovoked violence. I mean, the victims were just everyday people, leading everyday lives, right?

And then I noticed a few things about our everyday lives.

I noticed the No. 1 movie in America is "Red Dragon," a film about what? Serial killers. We went in droves. We always do.

I noticed a coming-attractions preview for a film called "Phone Booth" in which a sniper holds a man hostage by threatening to shoot him if he hangs up the phone.

I noticed the biggest drama on network TV is "CSI," in which detectives try to find killers by examining the evidence left at the murder.

I notice a pattern.

I notice the nonstop TV coverage this sniper has gotten on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News. I notice the "special reports" and the breathless anchors who almost can't wait to bring you an update on a possible next victim.

I notice the forensics experts and the psychological experts, and the criminal, weapons and investigative experts, who jump at the chance to sit in the chair and offer their opinions on the killer's motivation.

I notice the newspapers that carry stories about the sniper and the radio stations that play sound bites from mourning relatives. I notice NBC's "Today," the most-watched morning news program in the country, opening its show from Maryland, with Katie Couric sitting outside a police station.

I notice all this, and I remember that what often motivates serial killers is the attention their crimes keep getting them.

I notice the Columbine High School shootings, and how two teens eerily predicted they would be "famous" after their killing spree.

I notice video games in which the sole purpose is to kill as many people as possible.

I notice a Web site called "Sniper Country" in which information about snipers, guns, scopes and other special equipment is readily available. There are even chats between visitors in which they debate the value of shooting at real people instead of targets. There is a message on that Web site in response to critics after the Maryland shootings.

"If you are anti-gun in your politics," the site writes, "then there is no help for you and we do not apologize. ... Firearms have been at the heart and soul of the success of this nation."

I notice the irony of that statement.

I notice how easy it is to get a gun in this country.

I notice gun shows in which laws are regularly flouted.

I notice prisons that don't hold criminals for long. I notice "The Sopranos" and their "whack your enemies" mentality being celebrated.

In short, I notice a society where violence gets you famous, where killers are considered riveting, where guns are easily available, where Web sites spill out killing information, and where the surest way to earn a TV movie of the week is to keep firing, keep firing.

"How could someone do that?" my friend asked. "How does someone get so sick?"

I don't know. Do you?

Mitch Albom is the author of the bestseller "Tuesdays With Morrie."