From: [REDACTED] at [hprnd.rose.hp.com] (Steve Kao)
Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy,misc.legal,talk.politics.guns,talk.politics.misc,alt.politics.org.batf
Subject: Re: Ted Watch (Week 4)
Date: 12 Jan 1994 22:32:46 GMT

Mike Light ([mlig h t] at [cup.hp.com]) wrote:
> A blockaded door does not prevent serving a search warrant.
> It hampers the act of searching, but the ATF didn't get around
> to serving the warrant anyway, so the point is somewhat moot.

Adam Bonin ([a--o--n] at [unix.amherst.edu]) wrote:
> They couldn't.  They were being fired upon.

The reasonable way to serve a search warrant is to walk up to the door,
knock on the door, identify yourself to whoever answers the door, and
produce the search warrant.

The BATF climbed out of the horse trailers shouting.  They never
identified themselves.  They shot first, tossed concussion grenades, and
broke into the house.  They never produced the warrant.  People who
behave in such a manner are criminals, whether or not they are employed
by the Federal government.  The BD's had every right to shoot back in
self-defense.

The following is an article I originally saw early last year.  I just
dug it out again.

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Here are excerpts from the Associated Press article on the initial
Branch Davidian raid by the BATF:


    Excerpts from an article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel Final
    Edition Monday, March 1, 1993 (the byline is associated press):

   "WACO, Texas - Fierce gun battles erupted Sunday as more than 100
    law officers tried to arrest the leader of a heavily armed
    religious cult.  At least four federal agents and two cult members
    were reported killed.  [...]"

   "The gun battles began when federal agents hidden in livestock
    trailers stormed the sect's head-quarters Sunday morning,
    witnesses said.  The agents had warrants to search for guns and
    explosives and to arrest Howell, said Les Stanford of the ATF in
    Washington."

    [...]

   "Witnesses said the law officers stormed the compound's main home,
    throwing concussion grenades and screaming "Come out," while three
    National Guard helicopters approached.  For a moment, there was no
    response.  Then the shooting began."

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While I have seen the search warrant, I have never seen the arrest
warrant.

- Steve Kao