My remarks are addressed to William Jefferson Clinton, the President of the United States.
Mr. President, as you know, today is the first anniversary of the ATF's raid on the Branch Davidians at Mt. Carmel, near Waco, Texas. Ten people were killed, including four ATF agents. You knew some of them. As you also know, a jury in Texas refused to convict any of the Branch Davidians of murder. Why not?
A year before that, the ATF raided Randy Weaver in Idaho. Agents were killed there, too. Again, the jury refused to convict anyone of murdering the agents. In fact, the grand jury is expected to indict the agents for murder.
What is going on here?
Why are the people of Idaho and Texas refusing to put "cop killers" away?
Mr. President, you know the answer as well as any of us do: The ATF is breaking the law. Now this is not your doing. These actions were begun long before you were elected. You inherited a mess. But now you are President of the United States. Your job is to "see that the laws are faithfully executed."
The First Amendment is the law. Was it being faithfully executed?
The Second Amendment is the law. Was it being faithfully executed?
Mr. President, I want order in our society; I want to be able to respect the rule of law. But this is a two-way street; the agents of our government must also respect the law. Only you can ensure this.
Mr. President, you recently received a letter signed by the heads of prominent civil-rights organizations, including the Gun Owners of America, the Drug Policy Foundation, the National Rifle Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union. They urged you to appoint a commission to investigate abuse of power by Federal law-enforcement agencies. Please, sir, do so! Instruct the Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the events at Mt. Carmel and to see that justice is done.
I'd like to end on a personal note. Over two hundred years ago, Jeremiah Moore was jailed in Alexandria, Virginia. His offense was "preaching without a license." Elder Moore was an early adherent of the Baptist faith. This incident, among others, moved Governor Thomas Jefferson to promulgate the Virginia statute guaranteeing religious freedom. He thought this was so important that it's the first thing he listed on his tombstone. I am a descendant of Elder Jeremiah Moore. You, Mr. President, are named after Thomas Jefferson.
Mr. President, which heritage will you advance? The heritage of hate and repression of the British Redcoats, or the heritage of Thomas Jefferson and Jeremiah Moore, the heritage of liberty and toleration?
Thank you.
Mr. Long delivered this speech at a vigil held on February 28 in remembrance of the Waco massacre.