Timothy Mcveigh Case Study

For every year that passes, there is always one event that leaves its mark on people's minds. The year of 1995 was marked by a catastrophic event where a man carried out a terrorist attack, killing 168 people. Timothy McVeigh meticulously planned to bomb a federal building, which ended up being the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Through this action, Timothy McVeigh caused permanent grief for thousands of people.
Throughout the trial of Timothy McVeigh’s bombing, one question was asked more than the rest: what caused him to choose this building as his target? When asked why he chose this building, McVeigh gave eight different reasons, all of which to him were thought to be good to him, but to the average, emotionally-stable person, were

completely horrendous. Out of the eight reasons given, Mr. McVeigh said “the building was ‘architecturally vulnerable’” (Clay). The vulnerability was due to “glass windows on its entire north side that made it easier for the blast wave to penetrate the structure” (Clay). Due to the structure of the building and the force of the explosion, 168 people were brutally killed. “He said he chose Oklahoma City because it is west of the Mississippi River and he wanted west because Ruby Ridge was west” (Clay). Ruby Ridge was where a government standoff happened between the FBI and a man, which resulted in his dog and child being murdered. By wanting the target to be west of the Mississippi River due to the Ruby Ridge incident, Timothy McVeigh has proven how much planning went into the attack on the Murrah Building. Despite how much much planning and thoughts went into the bombing on McVeigh’s part, the planning and thought process for the memorial took approximately the same amount of time. As his head turned with thoughts of a corrupted government in his country, Timothy McVeigh carried out a terrorist act.
April 19, 1995, a man with a deep hatred for his government, bombed the Federal Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Through meticulous planning and time, Timothy McVeigh was able to create an explosive bomb that would kill 168 people. Many people who lived in the city or in a surrounding town can still recall what happened that dreadful day. “We went to breakfast, and were just sitting there talking, and all of a sudden it felt like the building about got knocked over. A man, seconds after the bomb went off, opened the door and said, ‘I think the Federal Building just collapsed’” (Murr). Ripped from their peaceful daily routines, people rushed to make sure their families were safe and okay. Most were, but 168 people within the Murrah Building were not. A Ryder truck with homemade explosives caused more damage than when a person tells a secret they should not have. After the catastrophe was over, Timothy McVeigh had to be served justice, but in a different state. The trial being moved to Colorado was to ensure Timothy McVeigh would suffer his fair punishment for the crime he committed.
Any and every action has a reaction.

Every cause has an effect. Every choice has its repercussions. While going through possible bombing locations, Timothy McVeigh was aware of the consequences he would be faced with. He went through a trial where he was unanimously voted as guilty/responsible for the OKC bombing. Many Americans believed that McVeigh deserved the death penalty for what he did, but there was an amount of the survivors of the horrific attack that came up during the trial to say they wanted McVeigh to be spared. “The survivors know that “closure” is a cruel hoax, that the hole McVeigh created in their lives can’t be filled by court proceedings, verdicts, even executions. Perhaps that is why a surprising number of them emerged this week to say they oppose death for McVeigh and believe they will heal faster if he is spared.” (Pooley). The permanent grief he caused for hundreds of people that knew those who were in the Federal Building when it was bombed, was not lessened by the request he be allowed to live. Timothy McVeigh was sentenced to death. Even though their want for Mr. McVeigh to to be spared was not able to happen, the survivors were honored and those lost were too. Since the bombing had taken place, there had been a vast amount of ideas piled together to form one, big idea of building a memorial where the building once

stood.
In rememberance for what occurred on April 19, 1995, a symbolic memorial was built. This memorial was built in the exact spot the old Murrah Building was at one point. 23 varying countries and each American State pushed forth their own ideas for the memorial (“Outdoor”). The end result of the symbolic property today, includes: the Gates of Time, the Reflecting Pool, the Field of Empty Chairs, the Survivor Wall, The Survivor Tree, the Rescuer’s Orchard, the Children’s Area, and The Fence (“Outdoor”). Each item in the memorial represents one part of the bombing. The Gates of Time, for example, are to represent 9:01 a.m. when Oklahoma citizens had their innocence of terrorism, and 9:03 a.m. to show when everything was permanently altered (“Outdoor”). These two points in time hold a significant meaning to people who were able to comprehend what had happened.
9:03 a.m. was a time thousands of Americans have permanently etched into their brains whenever they think of April 19, 1995. Innocence was taken from those thousands of people. It was taken from mothers, children, fathers, grandparents, and even the government safety people who would now have to start thinking about the possibility that Americans themselves, could be the terrorists, too. The loud, earth-shaking explosion was felt towns away. There are many people who can still recall the event as if it were yesterday. “Though their emotional symptoms seem to have subsided, their heart rate and blood pressure increased when being interviewed about the bombing” (Lea). Moving on and trying to accept what had happened was easier for some more than others. There were mothers taken from their children because the bomb killed them. “I was 14 when my mother died, and the bombing was 15 years ago. I’ve now lived longer without her than with her” (Overall). Most of the murdered in the Building had families. They had friends and people who cared for them, and yet their lives were ripped away from them. Therefore, leaving those families, friends, and people who cared about them, distraught and heartbroken over their deaths. A positive that came of this entire act of insanity and vengeance, is the changes the FBI have made to make America more safe from an attack like this again.
If a child touches a hot stove, they learn not to do it again and how to prevent it from happening. The FBI has done the same thing, but with a more serious situation. The first step taken to ensure that a bombing or any other terrorist attack would not be very possible was taken by President Bill Clinton. “. . . President Bill Clinton issued a directive that clarified the FBI’s status as the lead agency in investigating terrorist attacks against Americans. The directive aimed to cut down on conflict and duplication and to indicate how cooperation in such cases should be handles” (Fox). Allowing the FBI to be the organization in charge of handling terrorism cases made things more organized and easier to understand. After this directive was given, it was followed with another. “The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act followed, increasing protections afforded to federal workers and the facilities they work in, as well as expanding the FBI’s authority to investigate terrorist attacks against U.S. persons overseas” (Fox). Now, the FBI is able to handle in-country terrorism and overseas terrorism. The people who work for the government are now, also, more protected. Because of the horrendous bombing, the FBI, as well as the American citizens’ lives, have been changed.
One day changed lives forever. April 19, 1995, that is. Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, etc. all started their normal daily schedules but ended it with fear and confusion. As citizens were going about their morning, Timothy McVeigh was in the process of positioning his rented Ryder truck outside the Murrah Building. After parking the truck, McVeigh fled, and the bomb exploded. Physical, mental, and emotional damage was thrust into lives of hundreds of families. 168 people were killed. This mass terrorist act will forever be known as the day that innocence was taken from the U.S. As the country still tries to move forward today, the past will always live to haunt those who experienced the damage Timothy McVeigh caused.