The problem with all this that I, personally, have is that the group Ranch Rescue has been around for a long time. That the timing of this confrontation should roughly coincide with the sunset of the semi-automatic rifle ("assault weapons") ban raises an eyebrow for those of us who became sensitive (under the Clinton years) to grandstand confrontations with groups in "compounds" just as some piece of anti-gun legislation was being considered.
Horrific events occurred from Waco to Columbine, oddly with the appearance of being well timed to create bad press for all gunowners, not just criminals.
Many career people now in high places in the Nation's LEAs were emplaced under Clinton, and Clinton was one of the most anti-gun POTUSs ever.
Unfortunately, the multitude of citizens' groups which sprang up on the heels of Waco were branded by the Left as extremist, and groups like Morris Dees's SPLC and Mark Pittcavage's "Militia Watchdog" defined who was 'extremist' for LEAs at all levels.
Mostly, the groups are composed of people who feel they have cause to be scared because the actions of the Government make no sense.
There are folks with criminal records everywhere, and these groups have no immunity to that.
The militia watchdog site has been absorbed by the ADL, and their latest article on militias can be found here: Militias expanding again
Seeing that on their website makes me wonder, especially when the Dems would use the ploy of branding everyone from the NRA on out as 'domestic terrorists' to push their anti-gun agenda.
This has been in the making for almost 3 years and has nothing to do with "sunset of the semi-automatic rifle ("assault weapons") ban".
Thank you for that very informative post Joe.
It was very interesting and thought provoking.
bump #156