Federal killings at Ruby Ridge, Idaho began 23 years ago today. Below are some articles I wrote on this case in 1995. Also included is the counterattack on my Wall Street Journal piece from FBI director Louis Freeh, who claimed that I "grossly mischaracterized" the details of the FBI's killing of Vicki Weaver.

I wonder how much controversy such a killing would excite nowadays. It is amazing how much further government prerogatives have stretched in the past two decades. And it is perhaps even more amazing how much more docile many Americans have become towards unmitigated government BS.

The artwork above is from an article I wrote for the June 1995 issue of Playboy. James Petersen did a great job editing that piece; the artist was Amy Crehore.

Playboy June 1995

HEADLINE: Overkill; the FBI's gun battle with Randy Weaver

BYLINE: Bovard, James

The story has been told in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Soldier of Follune magazine. Somewhere you've read or heard about the 11-day stakeout that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy, a 42-year-old mother, a federal marshal and one yellow Labrador retriever. It is an American tragedy, one that must be retold until some sense of truth or justice emerges.