Ruby Ridge
Since its inception in 1908, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been involved in various controversial cases where it has been proven that they abused their federal power and took advantage of the citizens they’re supposed to be protecting. In order to achieve what they want, the government is capable of doing almost anything. Techniques like entrapment, bullying, and changing the rules of engagement of field missions are all used to achieve these goals set by the government. The Ruby Ridge incident is a perfect example of the abuse of federal power. Randall Weaver, his wife Vicki, their two children Sara and Sammy and their adopted son Kevin Harris were not ordinary mainstream Americans. Their extremist right wing views led them to seek refuge from mainstream society in the remote hilltops of Ruby Ridge, near Bonners Ferry in Northwest Idaho. Their goal was to create a self-sufficient refuge according to the doctrines of the Christian Identity movement, which saw the Anglo-Saxon race as the true Chosen People of the Bible, besieged by a Zionist-controlled government. (Powers, 2004, p. 363) Although the views of the Weaver family were very different from those of mainstream America, it is their 1st Amendment right to be able to believe and exercise any religion they want. At the end of the day, the Weaver family just wanted to be left in peace to live their lives accordingly with their beliefs. It all began when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A.T.F.), who was investigating illegal traffic in guns by right wing extremists, had one of their informants go to Weaver and ask him to shorten two shotguns illegally, as a result of which led to the arrest of Weaver on January 17th, 1991. (Powers, 2004, p. 363) What happened was later found to be entrapment by an Idaho jury. Weaver was later released on bond. He then withdrew back to his hilltop and later failed to appear several times in court. This didn’t go down well with the U.S. Marshall’s
References: Powers, R. (2004). Broken. The Troubled Past and uncertain future of the F.B.I.. Free Press Gaines, L., Kappeler, V. (1994, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008). Policing In America. LexisNexis Group Bovard, J. (1995) Ruby Ridge: The Justice Report. Wall Street Journal article retrieved from http://www.stormfront.org/ruby.htm Discovery Times: Ruby Ridge (2001) Documentary Video of Ruby Ridge. Parts 1-5 retrieved from www.youtube.com