Waco Siege Affected Public Views Of Law Enforcement In The 1990s

How the Waco Siege Affected Public Views of Law Enforcement In the 1990s

The Waco massacre helped increase anti-law-enforcement sentiment in the US due to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)’s actions. During the siege, when the Branch Davidians refused to leave their compound, the ATF and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began playing loud music, the sounds of animals being murdered, and flashing bright lights at the compound in an inhumane attempt to force out those inside. Additionally, the ATF lied about their use of tear gas being a possibility for starting the fatal fire. Worst of all, however, is the validity of their warrant, they were investigating illegally obtained firearms, however, the guns were purchased for

Carmel Siege in an attempt to force out people hiding in the Branch Davidian compound. The FBI used loud music and unsettling noises along with bright lights to force people out of Mt. Carmel. The FBI “played loud Tibetan chants on the loudspeakers and used the external floodlights” to force Mt Carmel residents into a restless state (justice.gov). Additionally, The FBI acknowledged that the loud music and lights were a mistake. The FBI, having “ done all of the negative things, such as cutting the power, shining bright lights and playing loud music” was using inhumane pressure tactics to force out residents of Mt. Carmel, but knew that they were “negative” (justice.gov). Furthermore, many agents at the FBI did not find the actions reprehensible. Attorney General Janet Reno said that “she had concluded that negotiations with the Branch Davidians were indefinitely stalemated, that the FBI's hostage rescue team on duty at Waco was becoming fatigued, that the security perimeter established by the FBI around the compound was endangered”, establishing that the FBI did not mention to the public the pressure-tactics they had used

The FBI lied about firing on Mt Carmel, The FBI claims that “although shots were fired at the FBI from the compound. The FBI did not fire on the compound at any time during the fifty-one-day stand-off.” however inside the compound “a substantial number of individuals had died of gunshot wounds” (jusice.gov). Law enforcement was firm in the statement that the tear gas they used was not flammable and couldn't have started the fire, but this is false, The present law enforcement at Mt Carmel claimed that “The fire on April 19, 1993 was deliberately set by persons inside the compound and was not started by the FBI's tear gas insertion operations”, however “the FBI admitted that they used tear-gas grenades in the assault, which have been known to cause fires because of their incendiary properties.” (Justice.gov). The use of tear gas due to possible child abuse was unwarranted at the time, During the siege, there was “no evidence of ongoing child abuse by Koresh”, but the FBI still used tear gas because “a paramount reason for approving the tear gas assault on April 19 was that "babies were being beaten."”, which was not proven at the time