Kent State, Ruby Ridge, WACO, Elián González

[Matt Black]

I'm aware that the ATF scarcely acted honourably in the 'back story' to the siege but that's no justification for trying to kill police. If I'm missing something further that might point towards some kind of self-defence legal defence, then I'm open to enlightenment.

 

[Tom Bryant]

From the Senate Report

The Subcommittee is […] concerned that, as Marshals investigating the Weaver case learned facts that contradicted information they previously had been provided, they did not adequately integrate their updated knowledge into their overall assessment of who Randy Weaver was or what threat he might pose. If the Marshals made any attempt to assess the credibility of the various people who gave them information about Weaver, they never recorded their assessments. Thus, rather than maintaining the Threat Source Profile as a living document, the Marshals added new reports to an ever-expanding file, and their overall assessment never really changed. These problems rendered it difficult for other law enforcement officials to assess the Weaver case accurately without the benefit of first-hand briefings from persons who had continuing involvement with him.

from FBI Assistant Director Danny Coulson's own statement to the FBI's Office of Professional responsibility:

OPR 004477
Something to Consider
1. Charge against Weaver is Bull ****.
2. No one saw Weaver do any shooting.
3. Vicki has no charges against her.
4. Weaver's defense. He ran down the hill to see what dog was
barking at. Some guys in camys shot his dog.
Started shooting at him. Killed his son. Harris did the
shooting [of Degan]. He [Weaver] is in pretty strong legal position."[

I agree with you that the shooting of any law enforcement officer is absolutely wrong. But as Squire Robinson mentioned it is not as black and white as you believe.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Remember, the charge against Mr. Weaver was for making a sawed off shotgun. The Weaver home place on Ruby Ridge was not some kind of sprawling white supremacist compound.