In order to fully understand what the circumstances of domestic terrorisms previous events we need to know exactly what it means. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines domestic terrorism as terrorism practiced in your own country against your own people. Throughout the years, America has developed many tactics of dealing with domestic terrorism incidents through a plan of counterterrorism which is where you act to destroy the cause and center of a terrorism network.
In instances such as Ruby Ridge, Idaho, where there was a simple misunderstanding of what the terms “may be subject to deadly force” really meant led to a dangerous man going free. A former green beret, anti-Semitist, conspiracy theorist man was distributing dangerous weapons and leaked information to the Aryan Nation which led to his arrest. After missing his court date he discovered deputy Marshalls had surveillance of his house and this led to a full shoot-out along with the death of his son and many others. Shortly after other shooting incidents and a hostage situation, he turned himself in; however, he only receive eighteen months in prison for failing to appear in court and won $3.1 million dollars in a lawsuit for using deadly force.
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"Significant Events in the History of Domestic Terrorism".
In Waco, Texas there was a religious commune that followed a leader named Vernon Howell. He was being investigated for child abuse, sexual abuse, polygamy, psychological abuse, and much more on the residents and children living with him on the compound, along with the unnatural amount of weapons being stock piled. The malicious acts had been confirmed by Child Protective Services and the ATF; however, when a warrant was served for his arrest, he did not go down without a fight, opening gun-fire killing children, agents, adults, and others. He remained barricaded in the compound for fifty-one days until the delta force implemented a tear gas plan to drive him out. Instead of going peacefully, this resulted in seventy-six people dead and only five being convicted.
Not all acts of domestic terrorism result in an outrageous number of deaths. For example, the people of Freeman, Montana. A group decided to set up their own territory and begin their own country, including having their own money and banking system. After semi-peaceful eighty-one day long standoff with federal marshals, they slowly began turning themselves in.
While acts of domestic terrorism are not to be taken lightly, there needs to be a firm plan in action to handle the situations. It was very important that with the calm and rational people of Freeman, Montana did not turn out like that of other instances. Implementing better strategies and ultimately getting the situation resolved. These events are very significant in history because we have grown and learned how to implement better strategies and understanding of how to handle those that occur.
