Their weapons weren't illegal, moron. So once again you have your facts wrong.
Furthermore, the FBI didn't allow them to surrender, and they pumped thousands of rounds into the compound full of women and children. Yeah, that's how your loving government treats its citizens.
The bottom line is that Janet Reno and the BATF were 100% on the wrong side of the law.
You stated the following in your post to which I am responding;
"Their weapons weren't illegal, moron. So once again you have your facts wrong." [Emphasis Mine]
First, before you try to derail the point of this post and wiggle out from under your ignorance, I agree that the BATF and the FBI were both out of control and that Reno should have been sacked by Clinton. That is an obvious given. The topic is your assertion about the Davidians possessing only legal arms.
However, you are dead ******* wrong about the weapons store of the Davidians. The following is from a Treasury Dept. press release dated Jul 13, 1995;
"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms investigated David Koresh for conduct involving: the illegal manufacture of machine guns and the illegal manufacture and possession of destructive devices. The FBI report provides evidence that the Davidians' arsenal did indeed include weapons unlawfully manufactured. The weapons listed include semiautomatic firearms illegally modified to fire in full automatic mode, as well as grenades and silencers. All of these weapons were unlawfully possessed." [Emphasis Added] <
Department Of Treasury Memorandum | Waco - The Inside Story | FRONTLINE | PBS >
Your assertion that the weapons WERE NOT illegal is false, in error, WRONG!
The local Sherrif said their weapons were all legal. At that time the Treasury Department was the parent organization of the BATF. If you believe them, then you are terminally gullible.
Carol Moore: Waco Questions Congress Refuses to Answer
The Department of Justice would not allow a company chosen by House investigators to independently test the Davidians' guns to see if they really are illegal machine guns, or if the FBI was falsely claiming this. It then claimed the Department could not afford to independently test them. Considering recent findings of faulty FBI lab work, and even evidence of fabrication of evidence, this FBI allegation, which has led to 140 year sentences for six Davidians, must be independently verified.
The local Sherriff "SAID" their weapons were legal? Did the Sherriff verify that in a sworn report and if so where is the report? Where is the Sherriff's confirmation or denial that the Davidians either had or didn't have explosives and grenades as the FBI confirmed? For that matter, where is any mention of explosives or grenades from that fly by night group you cited, the Committee for Waco Justice?
I know you ubber right bat shit crazy neoconservatives never, ever admit you're errors, but for Christ's sake, if you can't provide solid evidence of falsification of the FBI report about what was recovered, then your argument FAILED! Since your argument FAILED, that is evidence that you are WRONG! You're pissing into the wind again and getting wet and smelly!
The FBI refused to allow independent verification of their so-called "findings." It then claimed it could not afford to independently verify them. Does that sound the slightest bit suspicious to you?
So tell us, Mr. Waco expert, where is the evidence that they weren't legal? Are there any sworn affidavits that they weren't? Is there a report from any forensics lab showing they weren't legal? Is there any published evidence that there were explosives in the Waco compound? What about the warrant? Has that ever been published? Oh, that's right, it was sealed by the same judge who issued it.
Even if you could produce all this evidence, which you can't, would that justify slaughtering dozens innocent women and children?
The FBI and the ATF have been caught contradicting themselves and making incriminating statements countless times. Their explanations just don't add up.
Keep in mind that all the Waco defendants were declared "not guilty" by a jury of their peers. You have to be a special kind of bootlicker not to notice the unholy stench rising from this case.
BTW, the local sheriff visited the compound on several occasions because of complaints he had received. He was allowed to walk right into the building without any shots being fired. He inspected their weapons on these occasions and deemed them legal.
All any reasonable person needs to determine the right of the question is to read this press release below and go to the link at the bottom to see the extensive list of weapons gathered at the site. The Texas Dept. of Public Safety was involved in collecting the weapons store and asked the FBI forensics folks to do the laboratory analysis.
The Memorandum:
"
July 13, 1995
MEMORANDUM TO THE PRESS
FROM: Chris Peacock, Director of Public Affairs
SUBJECT: Weapons Possessed by the Branch Davidians
Enclosed are a set of photographs of items recovered from the Branch Davidian compound and a document listing weapons the group possessed. The photographs were exhibits presented at the trial of eleven Branch Davidians in January and February of 1994 in San Antonio, Texas. The summary document, prepared by the Department of the Treasury, sets forward the findings of the FBI laboratory analysis of the recovered weapons. The FBI prepared the analysis at the request of the prosecution team and the Texas Department of Public Safety, which was responsible for collecting the evidence at the crime scene. The FBI experts' findings were presented at trial in January 1994. Copies of the FBI report are available upon request.
The photographs make clear that the Davidians possessed an extensive arsenal. The first photograph displays some of the hundreds of weapons recovered from the compound. The second photograph "government exhibit 594" presents a portion of the ammunition rounds that were destroyed by heat ("cooked off") and found in an interior bunker; the pile in the photograph is approximately 5 feet high, 20 feet long, and 12 to 14 feet wide. The cooked-off ammunition is being shoveled into a Bob Cat front-loader in "government exhibit 593." "Government exhibit 599" shows one of the live hand grenades found on the premises.
In total, the Texas Department of Public Safety, led by the Texas Rangers, recovered more than 300 firearms from the Branch Davidian compound. In addition, a number of live grenades and more than 300 grenade components were uncovered. Hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition were also seized.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms investigated David Koresh for conduct involving: the illegal manufacture of machine guns and the illegal manufacture and possession of destructive devices. The FBI report provides evidence that the Davidians' arsenal did indeed include weapons unlawfully manufactured. The weapons listed include semiautomatic firearms illegally modified to fire in full automatic mode, as well as grenades and silencers. All of these weapons were unlawfully possessed.
I hope you find these documents useful as you review Treasury's report on ATF's role in events at Waco." [Emphasis Added]
<
Department Of Treasury Memorandum | Waco - The Inside Story | FRONTLINE | PBS >
You offer NOTHING to rebut any of this documented evidence with verifiable documentation of your own. I could give a shit less about your straw man pleadings, they are nothing other than your usual dance to derail the topic!
For you to imply that the Treasury Dept, the ATF, the FBI, the Texas Dept. of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers all got together and conspired to do a massive coverup of all the facts regarding the weapons at the compound without a single shred of evidence to backup that bullshit tale is really ******* stupid of you! You are wrong. Deal with it dumb ass. YOU FAIL AGAIN!!!!
Below is the full weapons list taken from the Davidian compound by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers.
WEAPONS RECOVERED FROM THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN COMPOUND: TREASURY SUMMARY OF REPORT PREPARED BY THE FBI FOR PROSECUTORS AND THE ILLEGAL WEAPONS RECOVERED
Machine Guns
The FBI determined that 46 semiautomatic firearms had been modified to fire in full automatic mode:
22 M-16 Type Rifles
20 AK-47 Type Rifles
2 Heckler and Koch SP-89
2 M-11/Nine
The FBI also determined that two AR-15 lower receivers had been modified to fire in full automatic mode.
Silencers
21 Sound suppressors or silencers
Hand Grenades
4 Live M-21 Practice Hand Grenades
The possession of lawfully manufactured machineguns, silencers, or grenades requires the owner to register the weapon with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. None of the compound's residents were registered to own such a weapon, therefore it would have been illegal for them to possess these weapons.
WEAPONS RECOVERED FROM THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN COMPOUND: TREASURY SUMMARY OF REPORT PREPARED BY THE FBI FOR PROSECUTORS AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
TOTAL WEAPONS RECOVERED
(Including Weapons Mentioned on Previous Page)
FIREARMS
Rifles and Rifle Components
61 M-16 Type and 2 M-16 Lower Receivers
61 AK-47 Type
34 AR-15 Type and 2 AR-15 Lower Receivers
13 Shotguns -- 12 gauge
11 7.62MM FN FAL Type
10 Mini-14 Type
7 37mm. Flare Gun/Launcher Type
6 .30 Carbine Calber US Carbine, Model M1
6 Assorted Rifles
5 M-11/Nine
5 M-14 Type
3 Galil
2 Heckler and Koch SP-89
1 Air Rifle
1 Heckler and Koch MP-5
1 Sten submachine gun
Pistols and Revolvers
23 Beretta
13 Glock
8 Assorted Revolvers
6 Safari Arms
6 Assorted Pistols
5 Sig Sauer
5 Walther
2 Taurus
EXPLOSIVES
Hand Grenades
4 Live M-21 Practice Hand Grenades
100+ Modified M-21 Practice Hand Grenade bodies; the bodies of these had been threaded and plugged but lacked a main charge or fusing system.
11 M-69 Practice Hand Grenades; the bodies of these grenades exhibited indications of attempted modifications.
219 Grenade Safety Pins
243 Grenade Safety Levers
Rifle Grenades
200+ Inert M31 Practice Rifle Grenades.
FIREARMS ACCESSORIES AND PARTS
Silencers
21 Sound suppressors and silencers.
Flash Suppressors
18 Flash Suppressors.
Firearms Barrels
17 M-16/AR-15 Type (5.56 mm)
8 M-16/AR-15 Type (9mm caliber)
3 M-16/AR-15 Type (.45 ACP caliber)
1 M-16/AR-15 Type (5.56 mm)
2 Ruger. 22 Caliber
1 M-60 machine gun
1 12 Gauge Shotgun
1 Taurus, Model 92, 9mm pistol barrel
1 Sig Sauer 9mm pistol barrel
Pistol Slides
1 Sig Sauer Model
Revolver Parts
1 .38 Special caliber cylinder
Bolt Carriers
39 M-16
24 AR-15
2 MP-5
2 AK-47
1 FAL
1 Unknown
Bolts
15 AK-47
7 .22 LR conversion
3 M-16/AR-15
1 FN FAL (1)
Bolt Assemblies
3 M-11/Nine
2 M-16
1 AR-15
1 MAC-10
1 Shotgun
Recoil Springs and Guides
3 Glock
2 Sig Sauer
1 Beretta
1 M-11/Nine
Stripper Clips
29 Stripper Clips
Accessories
6 .22 LR Caliber Conversion Kits
Hammers
31 AK-47
18 M-16
12 AR-15
4 M-11/Nine
2 Sig Sauer
1 Beretta
Hammer Springs
3 AK-47
Buffer/Recoil Springs
36 M-16/AR-15
4 AK-47
Selector Switches
9 M-16
3 AR-15
1 Unknown
Sears
1 M-11/Nine
Auto Sears
8 AK-47
4 M-16
1 FN FAL
Auto Sear Springs
12 AK-47
Disconnects
7 AK-47
1 M-16
Trigger/Trigger Mechanisms/Trigger Housings
17 M-16
6 AR-15
3 M-60
3 M-11/Nine
2 MP-5
2 Sten
1 AK-47
1 Heckler & Koch
1 M-14
1 Smith & Wesson
1 Beretta
1 Shotgun
Ammunition Magazines
289 7.62 x 39mm AK-47 Type
248 .223/5.56 mm M-16/AR-15 Type
108 Sten Gun Type
88 .308 Caliber FN FAL Type
72 M-14 Type
61 Beretta Model Type 92
58 .308 Caliber of Unkown Type
28 Ruger Mini-14 Type
22 .22 Caliber
17 UZI Type
16 USAS-12 Type
13 .45 Caliber
11 Glock
11 MP-5
11 Sig Sauer P226/P228
9 Unknown Type
7 .308 Caliber Galil Type
6 Walther PPK
5 9mm Unknown Type
4 .50 Caliber
3 .30 Caliber U.S. Carbine
3 .380 Auto Caliber
2 9mm Smith & Wesson
1 AK-74 Type
1 Grendel
Ammunition Containers
220 Metal Boxes (Various Calibers)
15 Wooden Boxes (Various Calibers)
4 Buckets (Various Calibers)
1 Cardboard Boxes (Various Calibers)
Magazine Springs
360 M-16/AR-15
42 FN FAL .308 Caliber Type
35 AK-47
28 9mm Magazine Springs of Unknown Type
15 Unknown
10 M-14
6 M-1 Carbine
3 .50 Caliber
1 Mini-14 Magazine
1 Glock
These lists do not include dozens of other items recovered from the Compound such as dust covers, extractors, front and rear sights, gun cleaning equipment, bolt release levers, compensators, .50 caliber belt links and numerous other parts.