Didn't you watch the hearings? It cost American citizens years of abuse, threats, and just the type of ridicule you've expressed before real hearings were held by the Congress.
My recollection is that a trial date mix up caused Mr. Weaver to miss his court appearance. Marshals were dispatched. They approached the cabin via the woods.
Mr. Weaver's son and and adult male visiting the Weavers were out on the property when the Weaver's dog spotted something and ran toward the two Marshals hiding in the woods.
The dog was shot dead. The Weaver boy became enraged and fired at whoever killed his dog.
The adult male, also carrying a rifle, joined what turned out to be a fire fight. One Marshal was killed, the adult male years later during the televised hearings agreed that his shot likely did it.
The boy was shot dead by the Marshals. I believe it was a few days before the Weavers were allowed to retrieve their son's body.
Mr. Weaver was looking to go out in a blaze of glory?
Do you have valid sources especially the Senate hearings that confirms your opinions? I will use those hearings to backup my recollection -- I ain't that old.
BTW, if anyone reading this knows of a complete transcript I 've been wanting to confirm another of my recollections; to wit, that federal agents testified that they, in general, had the right to kill citizens based solely upon the likelihood that the citizens may become a threat later.
Yes and I thought Weaver did an excellent job. Someone else made a reference to his "low IQ" but I doubt that.