Ambush at Ruby Ridge

Reason Magazine ^ | October 1993 Print Edition | http://www.reason.com

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

From the article:

The eight-week trial of Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris grew out of such a bizarre set of circumstances that it’s not surprising it took a while for the jurors to sort things out. It probably also took them a while to come to grips with the idea that government agencies could so blatantly engage in entrapment, lying, cover-ups, and the killing of innocent people. As one alternate juror, excused before deliberations were completed, put it: "I felt like a little kid that finds out there is no Santa Claus."

The story is unbelievable from start to finish, yet it happened. No one was punished (there was a cash award but the government paid that, not the agents) or fired or reprimanded. Wasn't the murderer Lon Horiuchi also at Waco?

[Grunthor]

“There are several eerie similarities between the Randy Weaver episode and the federal government’s deadly confrontation with Branch Davidians near Waco, Texas, last spring. Both involved the use of massive force against people with fringe religious beliefs.”

Given the Mormon oposition to gay marriage in the recent election and the violent aftermath (by the queers), how long until the pro-gay “marriage” President Hussein sends in the troops to SLC?

[Joe Boucher]

Yes,
Horiuchi was a shooter at WACO too.
Punished? The highest federal agent there was promoted.
Guy should have been horse whipped.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I think various agencies with Police powers don’t really know care how normal people conduct their lives.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

There's a video covering this outrage here:

Ruby Ridge Documentary

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Gordon Liddy was furious about this story and mentioned it at least once a week (if not per day) after Clinton was elected. He had utter contempt for these lowlifes.

Reading the article gives you a good overview of the mindset of these thugs and their total disregard for the rule of law, constitutional rights or common human decency.

[Bon mots]

The Obamunists will be deploying more of these thugs.

[Ditter]

It happened during clinton’s first year in office but they had been preparing and watching these people for 16 months. Wouldn't it have begun during Bush 41?

[Ditto]

Six policemen entered my house (in the UK) last Friday - apparently under the mistaken impression that I was dead...

Were you missing anything after they left?

[oneolcop]

A few comments: 1) I live in the area. I've visited the site of the incident with the Boundary County officer who investigated the entire incident immediately after the incident ended. 2) At the time of the shootout at the "Y", Sammy was carrying a Ruger Mini-14, a 5.55 or .223 caliber carbine with a twenty of 30 round magazine, not a 30:06 rifle as the article states. 3) The cabin on the knoll was, in reality a plywood shack. It was destroyed in the winter of 1995/96 by the heavy snow. 4) The "shoot to kill" order was illegal under the laws of the United States at the time and still is. Two FBI directors have been forced to resign (although other reasons were cited) because of their efforts to hide the illegality of the actions of the FBI HRT during the incident. 5) The cabin was buzzed by a helicopter carrying the on-scene commander in an effort to flush out the Weavers. 6) The Weavers were in fear for their lives (justifiably so IMHO) based upon the previous actions of the ATF. 7)The ATF was, in fact, "looking for a mission" tho save itself from being absorbed by the FBI. (This is also the reason for the Waco incident-but that's another story.) 8) As to the the assertion that the FBI and ATF are essentially government thugs (my term) let me say that they were and probably still are taught to distrust everyone, including local law enforcement, and consider local law enforcement as entirely corrupt. Perhaps a fed would like to dispute this.

Hope this helps.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

My mistake. The election was in 1992 when GHW Bush was still in office. Waco happened under Clinton, who took office in 1993.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Great post.

[acoulterfan]

They should have sent Dog the Bounty Hunter in and NOBODY would have been hurt!

[Joe Boucher]

I think of the numerous un-needed swat teams throughout law enforcement.
Seems every podunk berg has one now adays trying to out do the others.

[RobinOfKingston]

For a couple years now, I have been asking folks with whom I strike up a conversation, “Do you trust your government?”

Almost without exception the answer is, “No.”

[enots]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/89828

Events concerning FBI agent Larry Potts and Ruby Ridge.

Excerpt
But then an outside Justice Department investigation informed Freeh that Potts had allegedly joined a cover-up about the true facts at Ruby Ridge.

Excerpt
When Potts left the bureau in 1997, his buddies flew into Washington from around the country for a farewell dinner. They billed the government, claiming “official business”—a nonexistent “ethics seminar” at the FBI training academy. A panel of senior officials known bitterly by street agents as “the club” let their fellow chieftains off with a mild rebuke. Instead of being accused of fraud, the charge was softened to “inattention to detail.”

[zeugma]

Oh, BTW: Horiuchi is still above ground.

To our eternal shame.

[radiohead]

Horiuchi should have been hung. If ever some one deserved a slow painful death.

Just thought I'd say it again.

Randy Weaver and I probably have differing beliefs, but what the government did to him and his family was disgraceful. As I tell my students, you never know when you will be on the government's hit list. Don't feel that you are safe against government agents and don't think it can't happen to you.

[Joe Boucher]

I know Mr. Weaver and I have different beliefs. But he did not deserve our govt. to do what it did to him.
And those responsible never were held accountable.

[El Gato]

Nope. This happened on President Bush No. 1’s watch.J6P was refering to the Elian affair, which was on the Clinton's watch. It was Janet Reno, who sent in the INS, just as it JR who sent in the HRT "for the children" at Waco. Ruby Ridge did occur on Bush I's watch, although the affair had started at least as early as 1986 on Reagan' s watch. Of course it was very low level then, thus it's unlikely President Reagan was even aware of it.