Ruby Ridge Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Ruby Ridge is a remote mountainous area in Northern Idaho, known for a confrontation in August, 1992 between a family living there and forces of the US federal government. The actions of the government forces were later widely criticized by the US Senate and others; the courts awarded damages exceeding $3 million to the surviving family members.Background
Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) were trying to infiltrate the Aryan Nation, a group of white supremacists based at nearby Hayden Lake. It remains hotly debated whether Randy Weaver, a local farmer, was a sympathizer, but he had visited the Aryan Nation church on more than one occasion. He seemed well placed to act as an infiltrator, but refused. Perhaps intending to elicit his cooperation, the BATF entrapped Weaver into selling them two modified shotguns, in contravention of federal law. He failed to appear in court to answer the charges, citing an incorrect date on his summons.
Weaver's friend, Kevin Harris, who had seen the dog and child die, fired back in self-defence, killing one of the agents.
The next day, a government sniper named Lon Horiuchi wounded Weaver, then killed Weaver’s wife Vicky, with a single shot to the head, and wounded another son. Vicky Weaver was holding a baby in her hands when shot dead.
A stand-off ensued for ten days as several hundred federal agents surrounded the house, in which Weaver and his three surviving children remained with Harris. The area was surrounded by protesters angered at the heavy-handed nature of the authorities’ actions. James "Bo" Gritz, then a third-party presidential candidate who had formerly been Weaver's commanding officer during the Vietnam War, served as a mediator between Weaver and the government. Eventually, Weaver elected to abandon the stand-off and trust his case to the judicial system.
Later investigations criticized the federal agents. The United States Department of Justice's report recommended criminal prosecution of federal agents, though nothing has come of this. The surviving members of the Weaver family won $3.1 million in civil damages.
The US Senate in September 1995 held hearings on the Ruby Ridge incident, and in December, released a report criticizing the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies.Events
Weaver’s home was subjected to surveillance by cameras and other means. One of the family’s dogs scented a federal snooper and gave chase. The agent shot the chasing dog, and, in an ensuing exchange of gunfire, injured Weaver’s son. As the injured son returned to the house, he was shot dead. Outcomes
Weaver was found innocent of all serious charges. At trial in 1993, Weaver was found innocent of weapons and murder charges. He was found guilty of not appearing in court on the original charges.