Frank Wilhoit: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”
> Rumors about Koresh's sexual practices with girls persisted for years prior to the ATF raid.
> Koresh acknowledged on a videotape sent out of the compound during the standoff that he had fathered more than 12 children by several "wives" who were as young as 12 or 13 when they became pregnant.
---
Seattle Times:
> Children who left the Branch Davidian cult compound said David Koresh gave girls as young as 11 plastic Stars of David that signified they were ready to have sex with him.
-----
PBS:
> About six hours after the tear gassing began, flames simultaneously erupted at three separate locations on the compound. Audio recorded by the milk-carton bugs suggests the Davidians started the fires, acting on orders from Koresh.
> 1st DAVIDIAN: [surveillance tape] Start the fire?
The ATF was raiding for their purview, firearms/explosives.
As for the fires, they happened after incendiary tear gas was deployed by the government. They also sent a tank like vehicle to destroy the building. That's not overruled by some sketchy milk carton audio of who knows who.
> The ATF was raiding for their purview, firearms/explosives.
Well not really. That's what they had warrants for. Obviously they knew about and didn't like the whole child sex slavery thing.
> As for the fires, they happened [six hours] after incendiary tear gas was deployed by the government... That's not overruled by some sketchy milk carton audio of [militant religious nutjobs inside the compound talking about spreading fuel throughout the compound]
Obviously the best way to save the children from Koresh is a siege, incendiary weapons, and a tank. Not taking him on his daily run, or first using the sheriff who had rapport with Koreash
Even if the ATF/FBI is 0% responsible for the fire they showed an exquisite ability to exacerbate the danger the kids were in. I'm sure it was a total coincidence the same sniper at Waco shot Vicki Weaver, an innocent women with a child in her arms.
Your specific concern was Koresh having sex with children. Are you moving the goal posts, or was that not your concern? How does he have sex with kids in adult jail?
Or do you mean what should happen when someone doesn't pay $200 for an NFA stamp ( in this case i beleive for alleged machine guns or destructive devices), which is another crime they were accused of. In that case I'd say asset or wage garnishment is a better way to dealing with unpaid taxes.
You were suggesting the raid on Waco was about taxes and all the chaos was totally avoidable.
I’m arguing it was not really about taxes and it was almost certainly not avoidable. Neither “arrest him outside” nor “don’t use CS gas” were likely to avoid the outcome.
You can prove your point by describing how it was avoidable. If your answer is “let people operate child sex slavery compounds if they’re sufficiently well-armed,” that’s an opinion you’re welcome to hold, but just come out and say it.
I think it's more about the fact that the feds could have easily taken Koresh into custody when he left the compound to run errands. Instead they chose to send a message and it ended in tragedy.
It seems to me ATF didn't really know he left the compound regularly. Which is, of course, a huge error, but a different one than the one you're alleging.
And at the end of they day they'd have to raid the compound anyway. There were plenty of other militant nutjobs there to turn it into the catastrophe it became regardless, IMO.
