murder and conspiracy trial of 11 Branch Davidians. The dead were found in the rubble of the April 19 fire

that destroyed the compound, killing more than 75 Branch Davidians, including the sect's leader, David

Koresh, and 17 children. Perhaps the worst case of the federal government's overreaching in American

history, the 1993 Waco tragedy has caused Americans to ask the question of how much military involvement

will citizens allow in their everyday lives before they lose their rights as individuals.

In February, 1993, 4 federal agents were killed in an assault on the compound of the Branch

Davidians, a cult group just outside of Waco, Texas. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (the

ATF), a unit of the Treasury Department implemented the operation on the grounds that members of the

Branch Davidians possessed illegal firearms and explosives and committed physical and sexual abuse,

especially against children. Their goal was to arrest David Koresh, a self-proclaimed apocalyptic prophet and

the leader of the cult, and seize the group's weapons.

After this disaster, in which about a half-dozen cult me

ahead, trying always to figure out what you can do better,"

ultimately ended up breaking down and finally ended. All utilities including water, electricity, and telephone

military and civilian forces in direct violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which forbids such

The overreaching of government and military in the Waco siege resulted in a situation comparable to those of Nazi germany

have known that the reasons cited for ending the standoff on April 19 lacked merit. The negotiations had not

Member of the Clinton Administration, Attorney General Janet Reno, took full responsibility for

States are reserved to the states or to the people); and the 14th ( no man can be deprived of life, liberty, or

Some common words found in the essay are:
Branch Davidians, Posse Comitatus, York Times, David Koresh, Rescue Team, Coalition NRA, According Reno, Robert Rubin, Six Waco, Law School, law enforcement, york times, branch davidians, april 19, civilian law enforcement, waco siege, civilian law, editorial nation, posse comitatus, deadly force, sexual abuse, editorial national review, standoff april 19, physical sexual abuse, federal law enforcement,
Approximate Word count = 2041
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)