How did the Branch Davidians earn money through a gun business?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Waco siege — Branch Davidian Flames engulfing the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ending a standoff with federal agents, April 19, 1993.

Under the leadership of David Koresh, the Branch Davidians operated a retail gun business and engaged in arms dealing to generate income.123

This commercial activity, combined with allegations of child abuse within the Mount Carmel compound, drew the attention of legal authorities. Investigators became concerned that the group was illegally stockpiling weapons and feared the community might pose a threat to its neighbors or the surrounding area of Waco, Texas, while attempting to fulfill apocalyptic endtime scenarios. These concerns ultimately led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to obtain a search warrant for the compound, resulting in the raid that initiated the 1993 Waco siege.132