By Sgt. Patrick Hayes
Could there be another Waco? Or a Ruby Ridge? Of course. There is always a chance and today there seems to be an even bigger chance. First, let’s make a distinction. The BATFE, FBI, DHS and others are NOT POLICE officers. They are FEDERAL agents. They work for Federal agencies with political agendas ran by political appointees. This worked for gun owners when President G.W. Bush ripped the BATFE apart shortly after being elected. It worked against us with Clinton and more so now with Obama . . .
Many comments I get are against the “Militarization” of Police officers. I carry three firearms on duty. My Glock 22 sidearm, A Mossberg 500 police shotgun and an M16 patrol rifle. Each agency I listed above has FULL military gear and vehicles. Armored vehicles with large bore weapons, full auto M4’s, MP5SD’s, Grenade launchers, Armed aircraft etc.
This was the problem at WACO. Too much firepower, no control of the agents, too much aggression and no restraint. If the wanted Koresh or Randy Weaver they could have easily waited for them to leave. In WACO I am willing to bet if two agents walked up to the front door and rang the bell they would have been let in. If the called Koresh and told him about the warrant he would have come out. Instead the stormtroopers attacked. Brilliant plan. Dead bodies everywhere.
In Ruby Ridge the Feds lied to a US Magistrate, set up sneak and peek surveillance and started a war. The “Rules of Engagement” Were “suspended” by some Fed and an sniper killed a woman holding nothing but a baby. Brilliant plan. More Americans dead.
The main problem is these agents are ordered to do the bidding of the party in the White House. These agents have NO connection to the communities they are working in. The closest BATFE agents to my county are 85 miles away. Im sure many are farther than that from where they act.
There are times when force is needed. Sometimes heavy force. These are rare cases where lives are in danger. Those might be the lives of innocent people or police officers acting on legitimate cause. It should never be used because two BATFE agents entrapped a veteran by asking him to saw off a shotgun barrel.
I have served hundreds of warrants. Most times we simply knock on the door. Drug warrants use more force and if we have information of possible armed resistance we bring out the long guns. These are rare occasions, not the norm. With Feds it is the Norm. They always go big.
Please note that I didn’t include two Federal agencies. The DEA and the US Marshals Service. The nature of what they do usually justifies a higher force level. They are also the ones who get shot at the most.
What about State Police? That depends on where you live and the role the State police play. In Georgia we have the Georgia State Patrol. They are essentially traffic enforcers and accident investigators. They have full police power but not general police responsibilities. Some states give theirs more authority.
Could there be another WACO? Yes, but look Federal for the ones coming to do it.