Introduction
The Oklahoma City bombing, one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in American history, was carried out by American Timothy McVeigh. At least 168 individuals lost their lives as a result of the bombing incident (Linder, 2006). McVeigh’s philosophy, which was based on white supremacy and anti-government radicalism, drove his acts.
Notably, his moral beliefs significantly impacted his decision to do the horrible deed. The story of Timothy McVeigh is a warning about the perils of extremism and radicalization, and his legacy is a sobering reminder of the terrible effects that may come from hatred and violence.
Therefore, it is crucial to explore the factors that caused McVeigh to turn into a domestic terrorist and to investigate how his ideas and principles shaped his conduct. Understanding McVeigh’s methodology, ideology, activities, and morality enables individuals to learn about the intricate and diverse nature of domestic terrorism and how it can endanger the safety of citizens and the stability of a country.
McVeigh’s Methodology
Careful preparation, in-depth study, and the employment of explosives to inflict the most damage were all part of McVeigh’s technique. First, he researched potential targets and eventually settled on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City (Linder, 2006). Furthermore, he acquired or stole the chemicals, ammonium nitrate fertilizer, diesel gasoline, and other supplies he required for the assault (Linder, 2006). The second factor is his knowledge, skills, and experience in making bombs, which he partly acquired during his time in the military.
As a soldier, McVeigh would have been trained in infantry basics. In his own words, he learned to make explosives by reading books and articles (Reese, 2018). According to reports, he allegedly went to a gun exhibition where he obtained the components necessary to create the bomb used in the Oklahoma City bombing (Leeson, 2017). McVeigh had previously made and detonated a tiny explosive device in a field near his upstate New York residence. He reportedly also rehearsed bomb-making using a training handbook he had collected (Reese, 2018). This culminated in the explosion of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
On that fateful day, Timothy McVeigh and an accomplice, Terry Nichols loaded a leased vehicle with a combination of ammonium nitrate and gasoline oil and positioned it in front of the building (Linder, 2006). The bomb exploded on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m., inflicting massive destruction on the building and its surroundings, leading to the loss of several lives (Reese, 2018). By this time, McVeigh had escaped the scene, leaving behind massive destruction, deaths, and injuries.
Timing is the third and perhaps the most critical component in McVeigh’s strategy. According to Reese (2018), McVeigh decided to act on April 19, which was the second anniversary of the Waco, Texas, siege, in which federal officials and members of a religious cult were killed in a gunfight.
Leeson (2017) notes that the Oklahoma City bombing, in McVeigh’s eyes, was revenge for what he perceived to be the government’s disproportionate use of force against citizens. Ultimately, after the attack, McVeigh fled the scene and was eventually arrested and brought to trial (Reese, 2018). He was found guilty and given a death sentence since he displayed no remorse for his crimes. Essentially, McVeigh’s methodology was characterized by careful organization, investigation, and execution in addition to a strong dedication to a radical ideology. His activities had a horrific death toll and a significant effect on American culture.
McVeigh’s Ideology
McVeigh was a white supremacist and anti-government extremist who was motivated by his belief in the need for a revolution against the United States government.
Anti-Government Sentiment
One of the core beliefs of Timothy McVeigh was his deep-seated anti-government sentiment. McVeigh believed that the federal government was a corrupt entity that had overstepped its bounds and was infringing on the individual rights of citizens (Linder, 2006). McVeigh’s anti-government beliefs were shaped in part by the Waco siege of 1993, where federal agents launched an assault on a religious compound, resulting in the deaths of 76 people (Reese, 2018). McVeigh saw the government’s actions in Waco as an example of the government’s willingness to use force against its citizens.
McVeigh’s anti-government sentiment was not only fueled by the Waco siege. He was also incensed by the Ruby Ridge incident of 1992, where federal agents killed a man and his wife during a standoff (Reese, 2018). McVeigh believed that these incidents were part of a broader government conspiracy to take away people’s rights and freedoms. McVeigh was a fervent supporter of the Second Amendment and believed in the importance of an armed citizenry to defend against government tyranny activity (Linder, 2006). He ignored the fact that terrorism is an act of violence and resorted to using inhumane methods to fulfill his goal.
White Supremacy
McVeigh’s conviction in white supremacy was another aspect of his worldview. While McVeigh did not publicly advocate white supremacy, his involvement with the white nationalist movement implies that he sympathized with their cause. McVeigh was a member of the National Alliance, a white nationalist group founded by William Pierce, and attended meetings and rallies with other members of the group (Levine et al., 2020).
However, McVeigh’s support for the group may have been more tactical than ideological, as he saw them as potential allies in his fight against the government. This aligns with the fact that upon his arrest, he had The Turner Diaries, a novel by William Pierce (Levine et al., 2020). The book describes a scenario where a white supremacist group called “The Organization” launches a series of bombings, assassinations, and other violent attacks to overthrow the government and establish a white-only nation (Reese, 2018). Thus, McVeigh was also influenced by the ideas presented in The Turner Diaries.
Libertarian Views
Lastly, McVeigh appeared to hold libertarian views, which placed a strong emphasis on the value of personal freedom and little government meddling in people’s lives. McVeigh believed that government tyranny existed when taxes and regulations were imposed and that individuals should be allowed to live their lives as they see fit as long as they do not harm others.
Additionally, McVeigh’s libertarian views were influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand, who advocated for individualism and limited government, and the militia movement, which sought to defend people’s rights against government overreach (Leeson, 2017). While McVeigh felt that using violence to protect individual freedom was acceptable, his understanding of libertarianism was extreme. In one of his letters, McVeigh states, “…I guess if I reflect, it’s sort of a Robin Hood thing, and our government is the evil king” (Thomas, 1998, par 17). This quote shows how he considered the government as a necessary evil that needed to be restrained to prevent it from violating people’s rights.
Summary
McVeigh’s ideology was a convergence of libertarianism, racial supremacy, and anti-government resentment. Even while he refrained from endorsing white nationalist ideologies outright, his affiliation with the National Alliance implies that he was sympathetic to their cause. Lastly, McVeigh had libertarian views that placed a strong emphasis on individual freedom and little government involvement in people’s lives, with the government’s only function being to safeguard individual rights. What finally drove him to carry out one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in American history was an extreme, dangerous, and aggressive mentality.
McVeigh’s Activities
Alienating with Extremists
McVeigh had a profound suspicion of the government and affiliated with different organizations, including anti-gun control activists, white racists, and persons who believed in conspiracy theories. His travels around the United States allowed him to meet other like-minded people, including members of far-right organizations such as the Michigan Militia and the Patriot Movement (Reese, 2018). He befriended, for example, Andreas Strassmeir, the chief of security at Elohim City, a 400-acre facility in Arkansas that was a center of anti-government activities (Linder, 2006). He also went to rallies and training exercises to sharpen his abilities in weapon handling and other techniques.
Theft of Guns
In addition to his involvement in the militia movement, McVeigh also engaged in criminal activities to achieve his goal. He was a member of an Elohim City gang that robbed several banks and planned and executed armed robbery of an Arizona National Guard armory, among other crimes (Linder, 2006). His theft of guns and military equipment from the National Guard armory in Kansas, in particular, was a significant step in his path toward the Oklahoma City bombing (Reese, 2018). He stole more than firearms, including machine guns and grenade launchers, as well as a large number of military explosives (Linder, 2006). McVeigh and his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols, used these stolen materials to construct the bomb that was used in the Oklahoma City bombing (Reese, 2018).
McVeigh’s robbery of a gun dealer in Arkansas was also significant, as he stole firearms that were later traced to the bombing (Linder, 2006). Michael Fortier, who eventually provided testimony against McVeigh and Nichols in their prosecutions, assisted in the theft (Linder, 2006). His involvement in the far-right militia movement and his criminal activity were all part of his plan to carry out the devastating Oklahoma City bombing.
Advocating for Own Views
Progressively, McVeigh became more outspoken in advocating for his end-of-the-world outlook. He relinquished his U.S. citizenship, converted his residence in Arizona into a bunker, and started constructing and detonating homemade explosives (Reese, 2018). At some point, he trespassed into “Area 51” and looked into reports of United Nations soldiers’ activities in Gulfport, Mississippi (Linder, 2006). McVeigh wrote a farewell letter to his boyhood friend, in which he declared that he would defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that blood would flow in the streets.
Bombing Oklahoma City
McVeigh started planning to bomb Oklahoma City in September 1994. (Linder, 2006). One month later, he hired a storage space in Herington, Kansas, which would subsequently be used to store explosive components. McVeigh and his accomplices allegedly bought nitromethane from a Texas racetrack and stole other components, such as detonators and dynamite, from a mine (Linder, 2006). While McVeigh was not out acquiring bomb supplies, he was monitoring the target building in Oklahoma City.
The bombing itself, as well as the preparation and planning that went into it, were all elements of McVeigh’s illegal activity. His anti-government ideas and extreme convictions motivated him to detonate the bomb, and his careful attention to detail was crucial to its success. Moreover, McVeigh wore a T-shirt with an image of Abraham Lincoln and the words uttered by John Wilkes Booth after assassinating the president, “Sic Semper Tyrannis” (“thus ever to tyrants”) on the morning of the attack (Linder, 2006). The tragic consequences of McVeigh’s activities serve as a reminder of the risks of radicalization and extremism, as well as the necessity for law enforcement authorities to continue being diligent in their efforts to prevent and combat domestic terrorism.
McVeigh’s Morality
McVeigh had deeply held political and ethical convictions throughout his life, which had a significant impact on his decision to carry out the attack. McVeigh was a strong supporter of the far-right militia movement’s philosophy, which placed a value on individual liberty and opposed governmental meddling in the affairs of the people. He thought that to protect Citizens’ rights, violent action was required against the federal government, which he perceived as an oppressive power violating those rights.
Justification for the Actions from Different Ethical Perspectives
McVeigh’s Views
In interviews and writings leading up to the bombing, McVeigh expressed a moral justification for his actions, arguing that the government had committed numerous injustices that warranted a violent response. He cited incidents such as the Waco siege and the Ruby Ridge standoff as evidence of the government’s willingness to use excessive force against its citizens. McVeigh saw himself as a patriot who was acting in defense of the Constitution and the principles of the American Revolution. He believed that the Oklahoma City bombing was a necessary step in the fight against what he saw as a corrupt and oppressive government. However, many people, including McVeigh’s legal team, claimed that his deeds were not morally righteous and were not justifiable.
Utilitarianist Views
Undoubtedly, innocent individuals who were not involved in the government policies that McVeigh was criticizing suffered severe damage as a result of the blast. Opponents claimed that McVeigh’s moral compass was broken because it placed his personal preferences and opinions above the security and welfare of others (Gill et al., 2014). His bomb killed several people, many of them unarmed bystanders and children, and injured hundreds more. This action negates utilitarianism, which asserts that the best course of action is one that maximizes overall pleasure or happiness and reduces overall suffering for the most significant number of individuals (Gustafsson, 2018). As a result, from a utilitarian perspective, McVeigh’s acts were wrong since they caused the victims, their families, and the community as a whole great grief and suffering.
Kantian Views
From a Kantian perspective, bombs are never justifiable because they entail seeing other people as expendable. This goes against the categorical imperative’s first tenet, which states that people should be valued for who they are rather than for what they can do for others (Baron, 2018). As seen through the lens of Kantian ethics, McVeigh’s actions clearly have no place in the real world. The bombing was an act of terrorism that specifically targeted unarmed citizens who were not participating in any violent struggle or political conflict. McVeigh violated the norms of the categorical imperative by resorting to violence to attain his political goals.
Additionally, Kantian ethics underscores the significance of rationality and law-abiding behavior, both of which McVeigh disregarded with his criminal and violent activities. According to Kantian ethics, everyone has a responsibility to reason with their minds and follow the rules of law, regardless of whether or not they agree with them (Baron, 2018). McVeigh was aware that bombing a building would lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties, yet he did not change his mindset. Thus, he demonstrated a thrill in harming others and violating the law, which is against Kantian ethics.
The Virtue Ethics Views
Similarly, according to the virtue ethics principles, bombings are not acceptable since they clash with values like justice and compassion. Virtue ethics places a strong emphasis on the cultivation of virtues, or excellent character attributes, as the foundation of leading a virtuous life (Van Hooft, 2014). In virtue ethics, behavior is judged according to how effectively it exemplifies qualities like integrity, fortitude, compassion, and fairness. Most interpretations of virtue ethics hold that respect for human life is a primary virtue and that the deliberate killing of innocent persons is a violation of this value (Van Hooft, 2014). Therefore, according to virtue ethics, McVeigh’s actions can be considered a lack of virtuous character traits like compassion and tolerance. His determination to resort to violence to achieve his political aims raises questions about his moral character rather than providing a justifiable avenue for anger at wrongdoing.
Summary
McVeigh saw the Oklahoma City bombing as a means of retaliation against the government and rallying support for his ideology. His morality was anchored on the view that the ends justified the means and that the sacrifice of innocent people was a small price to pay to accomplish his objectives. This mindset contradicts societal ethics and values and can only be embraced by people who have no purpose in life. In other words, McVeigh had moral principles that were fundamentally wrong, concentrated on violent extremism, and had no respect for the worth of human life.
Conclusion
Timothy McVeigh’s actions and life serve as a terrible and sobering warning about the perils of extremism and radicalization. One of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in American history, the Oklahoma City bombing claimed several lives, and Timothy McVeigh’s reasons were based on white supremacy and anti-government fanaticism. People can develop a greater understanding of domestic terrorism’s complex and multidimensional character as well as how it can endanger the safety and security of communities by looking at his approach, ideology, actions, and morals.
The research on McVeigh’s life further encourages more excellent communication and cooperation among law enforcement agencies and citizens in the fight against violence and extremism by bringing to light the destructive effects of violence and hostility. Recognizing the conditions that led Timothy McVeigh to become a domestic terrorist, it is crucial to use that knowledge to stop future disasters of a similar nature.
More importantly, McVeigh’s actions raise important questions about the role of personal beliefs and cultural values in determining sanity and morality. It also highlights the dangers of blindly following authority or ideology without questioning its implications. This paper encourages greater comprehension and collaboration among all parts of society in the battle against hatred and violence by increasing awareness of the risks of extremism and radicalization.
References
Baron, M. W. (2018). Kantian ethics almost without apology. Cornell University Press.
Gill, P., Horgan, J., & Deckert, P. (2014). Bombing alone: Tracing the motivations and antecedent behaviors of lone-actor terrorists. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 59(2), 425–435. Web.
Leeson, R. (2017). What Is ‘Hayek’? In: Leeson, R. (eds) Hayek: A collaborative biography. archival insights into the evolution of economics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. Web.
Levine, M., Margolin, J., Jenny Wagnon Courts, & Hosenball, A. (2020). Nation’s deadliest domestic terrorist inspiring new generation of hate-filled “monsters,” FBI records show. ABC News. Web.
Linder, D. O. (2006). The Oklahoma City Bombing and the Trial of Timothy J. McVeigh: An Account. Umkc.edu. Web.
Reese, A. (2018). From Ruby Ridge to Oklahoma City: The radicalization of Timothy McVeigh. [Senior thesis, University of South Carolina Scholar Commons]. Senior Theses. 259. Web.
Thomas, J. (1998). McVeigh letters before blast show the depth of his anger. The New York Times. Web.
Van Hooft, S. (2014). Understanding virtue ethics. Routledge.