[WFTR]

The whole raid was set up as a "photo op." The ATF wanted to show gun owners being led from a house in handcuffs. They'd been watching too many episodes of COPS and wanted to have their own action film clips. They killed all of those people because they wanted to make the execution of the search warrant into a media event. That's the real root cause that too many people refuse to acknowledge.

Bill

[snoringbear]

Bill, you nailed it for sure. It was indeed supposed to be as you say, a "photo op" for the ATF. It was also supposed to be a bone to the Brady Bunch and "send a msg" to all the pro gun people out in the heartland that hey, this "could be you" if you don't straighten up. I still say Butch should be tried (and convicted) for murder but it will never happen.

[lepton]

It wasn't simply the BATF. Clinton instigated it personally. He was shopping around for a photo op between the time he was elected and when he took office.