GERRY SPENCE! God, I couldn't remember his name for the life of me. I used to have a fringed leather jacket just like his back in the day.
^^^ Yes! ^^^
I've done a lot of reading about this case and Mr. Spence. I sure hope for an attorney of his integrity and caliber should I ever need one!
Technically yes.....but there was more to it. Cliff note version: ATF informant came to him to buy two shotguns and asked to have the barrels cut off. Weaver said no but the informant pushed the matter and Weaver needed the money. ATF comes knocking, told him to be an informant on the AB or go to prison. Weaver said hell no and never showed up for court, and the rest is history. All over an informant luring him into a trap. The shotgun barrels were 1/4" too short as well.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a common thread amongst many of the foiled "terror plots" that the government uses to justify its policies and bureacracies. Government agents actively encouraging and facilitating the acts. In some cases developing thier own plot and then recruiting and encouraging the illegal activity.
For example: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/op...pagewanted=all
Terrorist Plots, Hatched by the F.B.I.
THE United States has been narrowly saved from lethal terrorist plots in recent years - or so it has seemed. A would-be suicide bomber was intercepted on his way to the Capitol; a scheme to bomb synagogues and shoot Stinger missiles at military aircraft was developed by men in Newburgh, N.Y.; and a fanciful idea to fly explosive-laden model planes into the Pentagon and the Capitol was hatched in Massachusetts.
But all these dramas were facilitated by the F.B.I., whose undercover agents and informers posed as terrorists offering a dummy missile, fake C-4 explosives, a disarmed suicide vest and rudimentary training. Suspects naïvely played their parts until they were arrested.
That's the story I've heard as well, but I've never seen the source for it (didn't Randy testify in court that the shotguns were "cut-down" after he sold them to the ATF informant?).
There is a lot to learn from that whole situation (both for citizens and the government).
kinda long, but interesting testimony before senate investigation: Testimony of Randy Weaver (Sept. 6, 1995)
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/weaver/randytestimony.html
little off topic but if you've not seen it... an interesting video documentary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco:_The_Rules_of_Engagement
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/weaver/randytestimony.html
little off topic but if you've not seen it... an interesting video documentary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco:_The_Rules_of_Engagement
