“Compromise” brings to mind another thing. That was the code word at Waco on April 19, which amounted to “the Davidians have shot, pump in all the CS gas you want.”

And the agent who radioed the word “compromise” was, as I recollect, named Horiuchi…

1. If any adult male is observed with a weapon prior to the announcement, deadly force can and should be employed, if the shot can be taken without endangering any children.

2. If any adult in the compound is observed with a weapon after the surrender announcement is made, and is not attempting to surrender, deadly force can and should be employed to neutralize the individual.

3. If compromised by any animal, particularly the dogs, that animal should be eliminated.

4. Any subjects other than Randall Weaver, Vicki Weaver, Kevin Harris, presenting threats of death or grievous bodily harm, the FBI rules of deadly force are in effect. Deadly force can be utilized to prevent the death or grievous bodily injury to oneself or that of another.

Note that orders to kill applied even if the adults were inside the cabain. Also note that the Weavers always left the cabin armed with at least a handgun. In can’t find it right now but I’m pretty sure Vicki had a holstered handgun when she was shot. Hence, IMHO, her death was within the rules of engagement. To the best of my knowledge Horiuchi’s lawyers never tried to argue that point.

Horiuchi shot and hit Randy Weaver before shooting at Kevin Harris, seriously wounding Harrisand killing Vicki Weaver with the same shot.

Also of possible interest is that being from Idaho my peers and I would regard an unannounced and unknown person shooting at our guard dogs a threat to the personal safety of our family and hence subject to deadly force against said person.

In contrast:

Zumbo threw a bunch of decent gunowners to the wolves – and should have known better. I don’t think betrayal is too strong a word for what he did.

Cooper let himself be quoted in USA Today providing cover for SEN Obama on the subject of gun control. This, too, is contrary to the interests of his customers and employees.

HS Precision hasn’t come close to this. They’ve demonstrated appalling ignorance and bad taste. I would expect them to withdraw the catalog. However, I’m saving my flaying knive for folks that truly work against our interests.

A friend tried to reconstruct the homicide, and may have the solution. Orders were to kill any armed male seen outside the house (said orders being of course quite illegal). One of the males was seen outside, shot at, and missed. He of course sprints for the door to the house, seeking cover.

Rather than trying to hit a running target, Horiuchi puts his crosshairs on the doorway and waits. As the guy reaches the door, he fires.

But when the guy reaches the door, he realizes he’s about to run over Vicki Weaver, who is standing just inside. Startled, he halts or slows. The bullet meant for his back as he went thru the doorway instead kills her.

Talked to a prosecutor, who said the State should have prosecuted not only Horiuchi, but the FBI official who gave the illegal order. For various legal reasons, the case against the official would have been easier, and giving an order to commit murder (indeed, merely “advising” someone to commit it) make a person fully guilty of the murder, as an accessory before the fact.