Perhaps if the Feds were strict constitutionalists, they wouldn't be so paranoid and fixated on those who buck the System in earnest.
Scott Garms, Eagar's police chief, said he had urged federal law officers to stay away from Cooper's two-story compound, high on a mesa overlooking Round Valley, because militia group members do not recognize the legitimacy of federal law officers. "We certainly didn't want to make him a martyr," Garms said.
As long as folks like Cooper get the Klayman treatment (and are ascribed a certain influence in the making of terrorists like Tim McVeigh), it's doubtful they're going to start a movement of any appreciable strength.
Just because most folks much prefer to go along nice and peaceful like and pay their taxes doesn't mean we need support the Feds in their targeting of those who don't.
But it's a moot point anyway. With any luck, folks like Cooper will just start disappearing for good cause now that the Government's terrorizing of him or the Branch Davidians or Randy Weaver has effectively propagandized the protesters -- most of whom are dead, of course -- as the Real threats to the American Way.
Cooper's death was not the result of any unyielding stance for Objective Truth regarding illegitimate taxation by the Washington Leviathan. It was precipitated by bizarre and violent behavior towards a fellow non-government civilian. And BTW, Cooper drew first blood (by a member of the Sheriff's offfice, whose authority the Cooper-types fully recognize).
As I showed above, sometimes dangerous screwballs can be right about some things (such as the Klan), but that does not mean they are not dangerous screwballs; nor does it mean they should be revered (I always laugh when I see someone at this site claim the Northern Alliance/U.S. crackpots are just peachy-keen, because they are against The Taliban/U.S. government).
Unfortunately, every tale does not have a hero.