Research Essay

John Miller

Professor Philip Jenks

Forbidden Knowledge

12:30 – 1:45

Outline

Thesis Statement – David Koresh and his followers have been described in several ways by various groups in the United States. By the government, he is seen as a dangerous zealot who was ready to lead many innocents to a gruesome, bloody end by way of some made up holy war. To his followers, he was a great leader who would lead them to victory over an unholy monster and into the gates of paradise. To those who witnessed the fifty-one day standoff at home on their televisions, he and his followers were also viewed in one of two ways. He was viewed as either a lunatic who had no regard for his follower’s lives. Or, as a defenseless victim of a government agency with “John Wayne-like” tendencies that vowed to resolve the situation by any means necessary and squash a would be terrorist organization that threatened national security.

I Introduction

A Thesis Statement

II Beginnings from the Seventh Day Adventists

A. Doctrine of the Seventh Day Adventist

B. William Miller

C. Victor Houteff

D. The Shepard’s Rod

III History of the Branch Davidians

A. Benjamin Roden

B. Lois Roden

C. George Roden

IV Vernon Howell

A. Brief history of Vernon Howell

B. Vernon Howell gains favor with the congregation

C. Problems with George Roden

V Leadership of Branch Davidians

A. Challenge from George Roden

B. Shootout at Mt. Carmel

C. Seizing control of Branch Davidians

D. Set up of compound

E. Vernon Howell changes his name to David Koresh

VI Problems with the government

A. Former members accuse Koresh of child abuse and polygamy

B. Stockpiling of weapons

C. Government agents sent to spy on Branch Davidians

VII Standoff commences

A. ATF trains for mission

B. Information on warrant to be served by ATF

C. ATF engages compound

D. Cease fire declared

E. U.S. citizens opinions of situation

VIII FBI assumes command of operation

A. Negotiations between Branch Davidians and FBI commence

B. Use of military operations

a) Psychological operation

b) Bradley Fighting Vehicles

C. Tear gas poured into compound

D. Fire set on compound

VIIII Aftermath of standoff

A. Trials for surviving members

B. Investigation

a) ATF

b) FBI

c) Congressional hearing

X International relationship to Waco, TX standoff

A. Jesus Christ

B. Special Agent Robert Rodriguez comparison to Judas

C. Comparison of deaths

D. United States dealings with child welfare

D. Epilogue

I remember well where I was when the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas occurred. I had recently begun attending the Army’s School for Psychological Operations Training at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Our instructors, being long time military men were very impressionable on us. They were of the belief that here was a group of radical terrorists that the government agencies had to stop. We young recruits, feeling proud of having recently completed basic training and eager to show our patriotism, were easily swayed by their arguments explaining why the actions of The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and The Federal Bureau of Investigation were necessary. You could even say we fell under a small degree of brainwashing. Out of class, there were no small shortages of jokes and insults thrown towards the Branch Davidians. I was guilty of listening to and telling a few myself.

As I got older, I began to think differently over my military experiences and the operations the United States government had been involved in. I left the military shortly thereafter and began to rethink my positions on subjects I had been taught and expected to take at face value. I welcomed the chance to write on the Waco incident because it gives me a chance to exercise those final demons about what I was taught in the military and to formulate my own answers to what really happened at Waco? In 1993, how did people in the United States view David Koresh? Was he a misguided man who believed he actually heard God and that what he was doing was God’s will? Or was he a man set on bringing down the government through terrorist acts of his followers?

David Koresh has been portrayed in many different lights. By the government, he was seen as a religious zealot who was ready to lead many innocents to a gruesome, bloody end through some sort of made up holy war. To his followers, he was a great leader who would lead them to victory over an unholy monster and into the gates of paradise. To those who witnessed the fifty-one day standoff, at home on their televisions, he and his followers were viewed in one of two ways. He was viewed as a lunatic who had no regard for his followers’ lives. Or, as a defenseless victim of a government agency with “John Wayne-like” tendencies that vowed to resolve the situation by any means necessary and squash a would be terrorist organization that threatened national security. How does all that occurred compare to the history of Jesus’ life? Are there events that would seem to match up to events that occurred in Christ’s life? And was there an actual risk to the lives of the Branch Davidians children by how they were raised compared to a typical family in the United States? How did these children fare compared to a child supported by welfare? To find the answers we must first examine where the Branch Davidians and David Koresh come from. I’ll begin with the Seventh Day Adventists.

William Miller founded the Seventh Day Adventists around the year 1843. The group bases its name and main doctrine on the second coming, or advent, of Jesus Christ. The seventh day portion of their name originates from observing the final day of the week, Saturday, as the Sabbath. They are known for being conscientious objectors to combat. When they do serve in the military, it’s strictly in a noncombat role such as a doctor, nurse, or field medic (Linedecker 49).

William Miller, a former Baptist minister and eager student of the bible, had as his greatest claim to fame, a deciphering from both the book of Daniel. The passage states, “For two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.” (Linedecker, 45)

Miller translated each day in the passage as being comparable to a year. He added 2300 years to 457 BC to come up with the answer of 1843. This would lead Miller to believe that the world would end between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. When March 21 drew near many Adventists assembled to prepare for the final day.

The Adventists were saddened over no judgment day and second coming of Jesus Christ. This became known as the Great Disappointment. Miller made four more attempts throughout almost two years to predict the final days of the world. With the passing of 1844, many of his followers broke contact with the Adventists and formed splinter religious groups of their own. All breakaway groups kept as their main doctrine that a second coming of Jesus Christ was inevitable. Most of William Miller’s teachings and beliefs lay unobserved until Victor Houteff came along ( Linedecker 42).

Victor Houteff was born in Bulgaria. Raised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, he was known as being devoted wholeheartedly to his faith and avid in his prayer. And as a young man, he engrossed himself in all religious teachings, especially the bible. He eventually left the church because he disagreed with specific doctrines and spiritual philosophy they kept. Victor Houteff was known to be inflexible of his religious convictions, mainly the belief that only he was capable of finding the right path to God and the reward of Heaven. He often times showed a fierce intolerance to any who disagreed with him. (Linedecker 42)

Houteff said goodbye to both his former faith and Bulgaria where he immigrated to the United States. Upon settling in the Midwest, he felt the strong desire to celebrate his faith. These yearnings led him to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Houteff found a liking for the clean living devotion of the church’s members and how anything in the bible was taken as a literal translation. These were the main doctrines held by his current and former faiths.

Houteff accepted a position with a Seventh-Day Adventist Sabbath School in California. While there, he discovered William Miller’s teachings. He used Miller’s teachings, especially the book of Daniel, as a learning tool for his students. His shared beliefs with Miller on the final days of the world put him at odds with the Seventh - day Adventist church and another split between he and his faith was forthcoming. The church leaders met with much obstinacy from Houteff when they accused him of disturbing the school with his teachings. Houteff fired back with a bold statement calling for radical restructuring in church doctrine. He claimed he had been handpicked to clear the church of its hypocrites and non-believers. He called his upsetting document, The Shepard’s Rod (Linedecker 50).

The Shepard’s Rod also became the name of his breakaway camp. They practiced their faith in California for few months before relocating to Central Texas. They bought about two hundred acres of land and built their church on the site. They named it the Mount Carmel Center. In 1942, Houteff renamed the group, the Davidian Seventh Day Adventist Association. In 10 years the group grew to about 120 parishioners. The group observed no religious holidays due to most of them marking an unscriptural, pagan holiday, rooted in Roman festivals for the sun (Reavis 60).

Upon Houteff’s passing, his wife, Florence Houteff, assumed control of the group. She prophesied that the end of the world would occur on April 22, 1959. Thousands gathered for the event and again were disappointed over the miscalculation of said prophesy. More splintering of factions from the group occurred. Some were still faithful to Houteff’s writings but, most followed a man by the name of Ben Roden into the Branch Davidians.

Ben Roden’s main message was based on what the Old Testament contained in its writings. Roden was a firm believer in observing the holidays that Jesus kept. Mainly, Passover, Pentecost, the Atonement, and the Fall Feast Of Tabernacles. He also observed and taught members of his group New moon rites (Reavis 63).

Roden, in a bid to gain more followers that were still left with Houteff’s group, convinced some to relocate to a village in Israel. He managed to convince the few remaining members of Houteff’s group to join him. Roden stayed in Texas to help send the people who agreed to go while, his wife Lois, helped the families who had already arrived in Israel.

Ben Roden died in 1978. His wife Lois took control of the group and renamed it the Living Waters Branch. Her main teaching was, The Christian Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, was a family, in whose ranks the Holy Spirit was the female member (Reavis 64).

George Roden was believed to be the next in line to take the leadership role from Lois Roden when she passed away. Most people had no faith in George’s teachings. He was not a respectable leader and most people in the group when speaking of him, referred to him as, “Poor George.” Even Lois Roden did not support her soon assuming the leadership role. Nevertheless, George believed he would be the one to take the lead for the group. That is, until a man by the name of Vernon Howell made his way into Mount Carmel.

Vernon Howell was born the illegitimate child of Bonnie Clark in 1959. She was fourteen when she gave birth to him. Bonnie and, Vernon’s father, Bobby had an unstable relationship that didn’t last very long. Vernon was given the nickname, “Sputnik” by his parents because of the child’s hyperactivity. Bonnie remarried later on but that marriage quickly dissolved due to her husband physically abusing Vernon. After the divorce took place, Bonnie left Vernon with her parents. Vernon lived with his grandparents until he was five, at which point, Bonnie had remarried in Dallas and had sent for him (Reavis 23).

Vernon Howell was diagnosed at a young age with a learning disability. This didn’t stop him from taking an interest in the messages that the bible offered. By the time he was twelve, he had memorized the entire New Testament. And he could debate it’s meaning for hours at a time (Linedecker 60).

In 1981, a twenty-two year old Vernon Howell came to live at Mt. Carmel. He was, at first glance, seen by other members as just a man in search of religious guidance and not as immediate leadership material. Even though he had what most believed as extensive knowledge on the bible, he lacked the drive in the beginning to pursue a loftier position in the congregation (Reavis 74).

Things began to change when Lois Roden took notice of Vernon Howell’s unique skills in interpreting the bible. Howell, from then on, began supporting Lois Roden in her sermons. He even paid visits to Lois’ room at night. Some say these visits were for private theological discussions, while others claimed the two were having an affair (Linedecker 63).

By 1984, Howell had gained enormous popularity among the Branch Davidians. He also married a daughter of a respected elder of the sect, in what would be the first of many wives. At this time, he was considered to be a prophet by several members of the church (Reavis 76).

Howell’s rise to power created great friction between him and George Roden. Eventually, Howell and his followers were driven from Mt. Carmel at gunpoint. They settled in an encampment near Palestine, TX. Lois Roden did all she could, up until her death in 1986, to try and make the congregation whole again. By this time, Mt. Carmel was practically vacated due to most people having left in fear of George Roden who had taken to carrying an Uzi around the compound (Reavis 76).

When George Roden realized that his power was slipping away over the congregation, he challenged Vernon Howell to a most unusual competition. Roden exhumed the coffin of Anna Hughes, a member of the Branch Davidians, who had been deceased for nearly twenty years. Roden’s challenge was this; whoever could raise Anna from the dead, would be known as God’s chosen prophet and the leader of the group. Howell’s response to the challenge was, “Not today, George.” Roden went ahead with the challenge anyway, shouting prayers over the casket, calling for resurrection of the old woman. At least one prayer he ended by invoking his own name but to no avail (Linedecker 71).

This was the opportunity Howell had been waiting for to be rid of Roden once and for all. He and some of his followers paid a visit to the McLennan County sheriff’s office to inform the law of what was going on at Mt. Carmel. The sheriff plainly stated that without proof, there was nothing he could do. So Vernon Howell set about devising a plan to expose George Roden (Reavis 77).

Vernon Howell plans were to lead a small band of his followers on a raid of Mt. Carmel to obtain the proof they needed. Howell spent a month planning the operation, handpicking eight men out of the congregation; he outfitted them with a small armament of shotguns and small caliber rifles. They snuck their way onto the compound and after camping out for the night, began searching the compound for the coffin to provide proof (Linedecker 72).

They were discovered by one of Roden’s few followers who promptly alerted him to their presence and an ensuing firefight began. The police intervened about twenty minutes into the shootout. Miraculously, the only wound suffered was a minor bullet graze to George Roden’s thumb. Howell and his men surrendered and were promptly arrested and charged with attempted manslaughter (Reavis 89).

Their trial lasted ten days. They were acquitted of all charges. Mainly due to when George Roden took the stand and admitted about attempting the resurrection and how he sometimes ended his prayers with, “In the name of George B. Roden, amen.” Howell’s lawyer summed up the victory by stating, “Our witnesses are nice people with no criminal record who don’t believe they’re Jesus Christ.” (Reavis 81).

After the trial, George Roden ran into more legal troubles with the state of Texas. No taxes had been paid on the Mt. Carmel property for nineteen years. When the Texas Supreme Court got involved, he fired off a legal brief that indicated if they crossed him, God would side with him and infect the court with AIDS and herpes. The justices charged, “Poor George” with contempt of court and sentenced to six months in prison (Linedecker 74).

Vernon Howell seized this opportunity to retake the compound. The compound had fallen into complete disarray. The roofs to many of the rooms were falling in and trash and broken down cars littered the area in front of the compound. The Branch Davidians quickly set about restoring the buildings and land to a more neat appearance (Linedecker 77).

In 1990, Vernon Howell legally changed his name to David Koresh through a petition filed in California. Koresh is Hebrew for, “Cyrus.” It is also an acknowledgement to Cyrus the Great, who conquered and founded the Persian Empire. The Koresh surname also came from a surname of God and that it also means, “Death.” He chose the name David because the Branch Davidians believed that the name of the returning messiah would be David. His full name could be translated as, “Christ, the destroyer of Babylon.” (Linedecker 95).

Not long after his name change, he instituted doctrine that he was commanded by God to father numerous children. And this order applied to all women in the sect, regardless of age. Before his death, he would come to father seventeen children, two of which were by underage mothers and a few others by women who were already married to another man within the church. Any women he laid claim to and had chosen to take to bed, were relocated to a special dorm, a harem if you will, he kept for his brides called, “The House of David.” (Linedecker 128).

Even though David Koresh was charismatic and well liked by his followers, a few did not agree with much of his doctrine. The decree, as stated above, over David Koresh laying claim to anyone of the woman was a major one that drove followers away from the Branch Davidians. Another problem in the compound was over allegations of child abuse and statutory rape. Child Welfare investigators had visited the compound several times based on complaints from Marc Breault, a former member of Mt. Carmel. Also a child custody suit was brought against one of the members, Sherri Jewel, in 1992 by her husband David Jewell in Michigan. The suit was custody of the couple’s 12 year old daughter, Kiri. Breault testified at the hearing that Koresh was planning to add the girl to his harem and try to impregnate her. The judge ordered Sherri to keep David Koresh away from her daughter. They maintained joint custody but, at the conclusion of the trial, Kiri remained with her father (Reavis 69).

What started a government investigation that lead to the standoff was over the massive stockpiling of weapons in the compound. Nine months before the initial investigation, a United Parcel Service deliveryman discovered that the package he was delivering to Mt. Carmel contained dummy hand grenades. ATF special agents followed up on the activities and discovered through receipts that the Branch Davidians had also ordered ninety pounds of powdered aluminum which, when mixed with black gunpowder, can be used to make grenades, and are illegal to possess by federal firearms laws. However, powdered aluminum and gunpowder is also used to reload spent rifle cartridges, which happens to be a most common and legal activity. So it’s very unclear from the government’s perspective, what exactly the motives were by the Branch Davidians for use of the powdered aluminum and gunpowder (Reavis 33).

The ATF was also suspicious over some parts, called upper receivers that the Branch Davidians had ordered for their rifles. An upper receiver has two known uses; it can be used to convert a semi-automatic rifle to fully automatic which under federal law is illegal. Also, upper receivers can also function as replacements for worn parts on the rifle. The latter is what they are more commonly used for. The investigation also mentioned the great quantity of firearms they were storing at the compound. There is no federal or Texas state law on the books over a limit to how many weapons a person own. Anyone can legally buy a hundred or even a thousand rifles and pistols if they so desired (Reavis 34).

The next step the government took to gather evidence in the investigation was to plant agents to watch what was going on at the compound. Eight agents had moved into a house directly across the road from Mt. Carmel. The men claimed to be college students but the Branch Davidians had been suspicious over this due to the men being in their thirties and forties. Also they found it odd that the men were living there due to the owner’s plans to not rent the house under any circumstances. Later on, some men were seen installing a camera, an ATF “pole camera,” to record any movements for evidence that came from the compound. Also an agent by the name of Robert Gonzalez made frequent trips to Mt. Carmel to gather information from the inside, to discover what sort of weapons they were stockpiling and the lay of the house from the inside (Reavis 69).

The ATF had set up a mock rendition of the Mt. Carmel compound at Ft. Hood to practice how the operation was to take place. The operation was codenamed, “Operation: Trojan Horse,” but the ATF special agents had a different name for it, “Showtime,” due to the ATF having several cameras on hand to document the operation. The mode for transportation to the compound was under the disguise of cattle car operators lost and asking for directions. The ATF rehearsed the operation seven times. Upon arriving, the orders for the operation were; neutralize any dogs on the compound that could pose a threat, serve the warrant and enter the compound by battering ram through the front door, and place David Koresh under arrest. The warrant the ATF was serving did not authorize a “no – knock” or surprise raid but, the ATF team had only practiced under forced entry pretenses (Reavis 139).

There were several mistakes and countless blunders committed by the ATF. Some of these occurred on the arrest warrant itself. For example, the ATF stated on the warrant that the compound contained a methamphetamine lab. The ATF based this knowledge on former members stating that an actual meth lab existed. What really was the case though, was that from 1987 – 88, George Roden had rented homes on the grounds to non-believers, including two men, Donny Joe Harvey and Roy Wells. Koresh’s followers swore that these two were the one’s making drugs in the compound. Upon Koresh’s retaking of the compound, when the members had begun the cleanup, they discovered the meth lab left by the two men. Never at anytime was it made factual that the Branch Davidians were manufacturing drugs (Reavis 125).

Much of the warrant, about two-thirds, covered the charges of both child abuse and statutory rape. It’s unclear though why the ATF would enter these into the charges due to the actions being out of their jurisdiction (Crothers 104).

On Sunday, February 28, 1993, the ATF launched Operation: Trojan Horse. The ATF hoped to obtain the element of surprise and ensure a quick arrest of Koresh, but it was not to be. The Branch Davidians were tipped off by David Jones, a postal worker who happened to be a member. He had been approached by a television reporter asking for directions to Mt. Carmel and was informed then of the raid. Jones then promptly returned to the compound to warn the other members what was going to happen. It’s noted amongst conspiracy theorists that, the ATF’s willingness to go ahead with the operation, despite that they had been exposed, was a sign that the mission’s intent all along was to use deadly force. They were unsatisfied, it seemed, with not just arresting Koresh, but to be fired upon and then have reason to use deadly force (Crothers 105).

For several hours, ATF special agents and Branch Davidian members exchanged fire. Both sides suffered losses, with the ATF losing four agents and the Branch Davidians losing six. The wounded tally was at twenty for the ATF and four for the Branch Davidians. Koresh happened to be one of the wounded that day. A cease fire was declared by noon that day (Crothers 106).

On March 1^st, the FBI assumed command of the operation and sent in its Hostage Rescue Team, even though no hostages were taken. Jeff Jamar, the FBI’s agent in charge, assured that the FBI would wait out the Branch Davidians, no matter how long it took. The HRT carries a strong policy on anti-negotiation, due to being created to rescue people and not wait on a negotiation (Crothers 106).

David Koresh seemed very willing to speak with the FBI’s negotiators, but it usually broke down into Koresh relaying his biblical interpretations. The negotiators grew tired of listening to what they referred to as, “Bible Babble.” Also adding to the mistrust was the constant contradictions from both sides. From Koresh, it was promising surrender and release of his followers. From the FBI, one example was a milk-for-children trade tactic they tried. The Branch Davidians gave the FBI $1000.00 to pay bills and buy milk for the children in the compound. The FBI tried to use this as a bargaining chip by refusing to deliver the milk until some children were released. This greatly hurt negotiations on both sides (Crothers 107).

All the while the stand off was taking place, there was round-the-clock coverage by the major news networks. Every house in the United States had a front row seat to the spectacle. The population was divided over the controversy. Most sided with the government and felt that this cult presented a threat to the stability of the government. The rest believed it was a case of big brother trying to enforce a group to conform to their rules by using a show of force. This and the events at Ruby Ridge caused many different militias to spring up practically overnight in the United States (Crothers 99).

The FBI began to use a process called Psychological Operations on the members in the compound. It came in two forms; One was the constant playing of annoying, aggravating sounds and music at high volumes. The other came in the form of bright spot lights directed on the compound from all sides. These serve to wear down and break the spirit of the target audience (Reavis 260).

Bradley Fighting Vehicles were also brought in after talks had stalled between the FBI and the Branch Davidians. The FBI began using these vehicles to pump ferret rounds of Chlorobenzalmalononitrile, or CS, gas into the compound. This was all done in an effort to get those who were holding out to come out. Attorney General Janet Reno, who had approved the use of the gas, was unaware that CS gas was unapproved for use inside buildings (Crother 109).

It’s unclear which side was actually responsible for the fire. The government claims that the Branch Davidians were responsible because they became suicidal near the end. However, as stated before, CS gas was not approved for use inside buildings. This is due to it, in high concentrations, being flammable (Reavis 270).

Of the original number of ninety-four believed to have still been in the compound, only nine made it out. These nine along with two others who had made it out earlier, were brought to trial, to stand for the events that took place at Mt. Carmel. The majority of the lawyers, who defended them, had to accept the case on a pro-bono basis. The charges they faced were; conspiracy to murder federal officers, attempted murder of federal officers, murdering federal officers and several weapons charges, the biggest charge from the prosecution being the conspiracy charge. The prosecution held that David Koresh’s religion was a conspiracy to make war. The final verdict came back as; all eleven defendants were found not guilty of the murder and conspiracy charges. Three were found innocent of all charges. Seven were found guilty of aiding and abetting in the voluntary manslaughter of federal officials. Five were guilty of carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and two were found guilty of other arms violations. The judge felt that the jury hadn’t understood the manner in passing the verdict for each charge. He cancelled out the jury’s verdict and found them all guilty and sentenced them to serve about thirty years apiece (Reavis 297).

When the Congressional Hearings on the Waco standoff occurred two years later, it seemed to me that Congress was hard pressed to exonerate the ATF and FBI. Now granted, David Koresh appeared too zealous in his beliefs at times but, the ATF and FBI were not completely innocent in this. Both sides made several blunders and bad judgment calls on their parts during the fifty-one day standoff.

There are a few things I noticed about David Koresh that could parallel with Jesus Christ. Obviously, the first one was his passion for spreading the holy word. Their deaths too could also relate well to one another Jesus died for the sins of man while David Koresh died trying to protect his followers. Both deaths occurred from something they strongly believed in.

I also noticed a few similarities between Robert Rodriguez and Judas. Robert Rodriguez would visit the compound to spy on them under the guise of wanting to attend bible study. Like Jesus, Koresh and the Branch Davidians knew they were going to be betrayed. When Koresh finally confronts Rodriguez about this, he finally tells him, “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.” I couldn’t help but immediately compare this to when Judas arrived with the soldiers to arrest Jesus and how Jesus reacted to it. I find it interesting that it played out like that (Reavis 72).

Since a large part of what I’ve researched has dealt with the weapons the Branch Davidians had been stockpiling, I thought it would be interesting to find out how Americans nowadays feel about the relevancy of the Second Amendment. The following poll is taken from http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/Zogby1.htm

A wide majority of American voters (75%) agree with the Justice Department’s position that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. Just over a fifth (22%) disagrees with the Justice Department, while 4% are unsure.

This result follows a Supreme Court brief filed in early May in which the Justice Department stated its interpretation of the Second Amendment that individuals have the right to bear arms. Since 1973, the department has argued that the Second Amendment protects only gun ownership by state militias, not individuals.

Zogby International interviewed 1,015 likely voters chosen at random nationwide on behalf of the Second Amendment Foundation, an educational and legal defense organization that works to protect the civil rights of firearms owners. All calls were made from Zogby International headquarters in Utica, New York, from Tuesday, May 28 to Thursday, May 30, 2002. The survey has a margin of sampling error of +/- 3.2%.

Republicans (84%) were most likely to agree with the Justice Department’s position. Residents of the South and the Central/ Great Lakes, and West (79% average) as well as respondents 18-24 years old (82%) were also more likely to agree. Majorities of Democrats (65%), Easterners (60%), respondents earning $75,000+ annually (70%) and those 65 years or older (65%) also agreed with the Justice Department (Daley 1).

While I don’t agree with how David Koresh handled this situation, I also don’t agree anymore with how both the ATF and FBI handled this situation. All three parties involved made several terrible mistakes and caused many good people to die needlessly. This was certainly a black mark on American history. Hopefully, steps are now in place to keep this tragic event from ever occurring again.

Annotated Bibliography

Reavis, Dick. The Ashes Of Waco. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. An investigative study on what occurred in Waco, TX during the Branch Davidian standoff.

Linedecker, Clifford. Massacre At Waco, TX. New York: St. Martin’s, 1993. One of the first books written after the standoff, also chronicles part of the Congressional Hearing.

Crothers, Lane. Rage On The Right: The American Militia Movement From Ruby Ridge To Homeland Security. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003. Exploratory piece that documents different areas of history to explain the recent rise in militias.

United Stated. Cong. Joint Committee on Activites of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies toward the Branch DAvidians, Hearings. 104^th Cong., 1^st sess. Washington: GPO, 1996. Official transcript from Congressional Hearing on actions taken during Branch Davidian standoff.

Daley, Will. American Voters Overwhelmingly Agree with Justice Department: Individuals Have Right To Bear Arms. http://www.ccrkba.org/pub/rkba/press-releases/Zogby1.htm, 2002. Statistics stating how Americans feel about gun control laws and Second Amendment rights