🚀 go-pugleaf

needed money for his family.

Why did the government target Mr. Weaver?

Blackmail.

One of the FBI's favorite activities is spying on political organizations.

They wanted to use him to infiltrate white supremacists groups for the
government. Or face prosecution.

When Weaver refused, he was indicted on guns charges. He was sent two
conflicting court appearance dates. He became paranoid the Government
was out to get him, so he didn't show up. [He was eventually acquitted
of all charges except the original not showing up in court!]

To justify a militaristic retaliation, BATF agents lied to the U.S.
attorney's office. BATF agents claimed that Weaver had a criminal record
and that he was a suspect in several bank robberies.

Both charges were fabrications, even according to BATF Director John Magaw,
who admitted the accusations were "inexcusable" in testimony before Congress.
 
THREE HUNDRED armed federal agents conducted a siege of the Weavers' mountain
home, first killing Randy Weaver's dog, then his son, then his wife.

A law enforcement wilding.

*   The CATO Institute, "Congressional Testimony", May 24, 1995
*   http://www.cato.org
*   
*   The Marshals, wearing camouflage and carrying silenced machine guns, did
*   not identify themselves or their purpose, but they did shoot one of the
*   dogs. Sammy Weaver, fourteen-years-old, returned fire, and was promptly
*   shot by a Marshal.
*   
*   Sammy turned and fled, with his nearly severed arm flopping as he ran.