In February 1993, shortly after assuming office President Bill Clinton authorized a staged event designed to generate support for official infringement of the Second Amendment through federal legislation.  A religious commune near Waco, Texas was selected as the members were judged by the Clinton regime to be unlikely to receive much sympathy from the general public due to what was perceived secrecy and shunning of outside society.  Attorney General Janet Reno directed the FBI to conduct a raid to seize illegal weapons and rescue abused children.  The leader, David Koresh, was regularly outside the compound and available for arrest and questioning had regime official so desired but no such action was taken. 

On 28 February 1993 a number of federal agents approached the compound while three Army helicopters attacked, killing one of the residents.&enp; The Branch Davidians were armed and returned fire when the agents (FBI and other agencies, with observers from foreign governments) and killed several of the attacking government agents.  From then until 19 April various types of harassment and threats with occasional token negotiations occurred while false information was disseminated to the news media to further the perception of the occupants as insane and dangerous, and on 19 April a tank was used to penetrate the compound and demolish several buildings, while setting fire to the remainder.  Officially 126 of the Branch Davidians perished, 46 of them children.  Many died in the fires.  Before the fires were out bulldozers were used to destroy the remains and conceal evidence of the atrocity.