On this day in history, the last Great American Folk Hero went to his Maker......

SPM

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Today is a special day.

Today is the 15 year anniversary of the Killdozer's rampage through Granby, Colorado.

Sit down kids and let me tell you a tale, about a reasonable man driven to do unreasonable things.

Marvin Heemeyer was a man who owned a muffler shop in Granby, Colorado. The city council ordained to approve the construction of a concrete factory in the lot across from Marvin's shop. In the process this blocked the only access road to the muffler shop. Marvin petitioned to stop the construction to no avail.

He requested the city construct a new access road, and even bought the heavy machinery to do so himself.

Denied.

The concrete factory went up in disregard to the ramifications on Marvin's business. To add insult to injury, the factory construction disconnected the muffler shop from the city sewage lines.

An indifferent citygovernment then chose to fine Marvin for this.

His business and livelihood were in ruin. Rather than lie down and die, Marvin chose to fight back.

Over the course of a year and a half Marvin secretly outfitted the bulldozer he bought to save his business with three foot thick steel and concrete armor and camera systems guarded with bulletproof glass.

On June 4th, 2004 Marvin Heemeyer lowered the armored shell over top of his creation, entombing himself inside the Killdozer to make his last stand.

He burst forth from the walls of his muffler shop and straight into the concrete factory that ruined his business.

Over the course of the next several hours, Marvin drove his Killdozer through 13 buildings owned by those officials that had wronged him, including the city council building itself.

SWAT swarmed the dozer, but it proved immune to small arms fire and even explosives. Another piece of heavy machinery was even brought out to fight Killdozer, but it too fell to the dozer's righteous fury.

In the end, Marvin's Killdozer became trapped in one of the buildings it was built to destroy. Marvin chose to take his life, the only life he took that day.

Today we should celebrate Killdozer Day and Marvin Heemeyer, the last great American folk hero.

A man driven to the brink who chose to fight back against an indifferent system.

From notes left behind after his passing:

"I was always willing to be reasonable until I had to be unreasonable. Sometimes reasonable men must do unreasonable things."

When injustice becomes the law, resistance becomes duty. So raise a glass today for Marvin Heemeyer, Patriot and American hero.
 
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I thought about this the other day when I was watching forestry mulcher videos. He was definitely pushed farther than it would have taken most people to get to that point. And the fact he didnt kill anyone just buildings is pretty amazing
 
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I remember it well! I spent a lot of time wondering what I would have done had it been me.
 
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Wonder if anyone involved on the town council are still around trying to serve the greater good?

People who think they're above reproach, or beyond accountability will be surprised one day, either in this life or beyond. I'm all for it happening sooner than later so people can still learn from what happens
 
I remember this event well. At the time I thought that he was just a nut, but I’m older and maybe a little wiser now. Looking back I remain confident that I properly assessed the man at the time of his rampage.

He made a property deal, tried to get out of it or get more money, couldn’t find a way, and went nuts. This didn’t start as a zoning dispute, it started when he sold the land to the company that wanted to build a concrete plant. What followed was efforts to either nullify that agreement or get more cash, as I recall he repeatedly asked for more cash in the deal after it had been executed.

Some of you believe that it was a grand gesture, and while I often rant about the stupidity of choosing hero's from the ranks of athletes and actors, it seems no more wise to select them from the ranks of the mentally ill.
 
I remember this event well. At the time I thought that he was just a nut, but I’m older and maybe a little wiser now. Looking back I remain confident that I properly assessed the man at the time of his rampage.

He made a property deal, tried to get out of it or get more money, couldn’t find a way, and went nuts. This didn’t start as a zoning dispute, it started when he sold the land to the company that wanted to build a concrete plant. What followed was efforts to either nullify that agreement or get more cash, as I recall he repeatedly asked for more cash in the deal after it had been executed.

Some of you believe that it was a grand gesture, and while I often rant about the stupidity of choosing hero's from the ranks of athletes and actors, it seems no more wise to select them from the ranks of the mentally ill.

The bit about him renegotiating/wanting more money is directly from one of the concrete plant owners (Susan Docheff of the Docheff Family). No one else. It’s not too unreasonable to think they’d paint him as the bad guy since he just mowed down their plant.

As far as him buying equipment to make the alternate access to his shop; the council never rebutted that and I’ve never read any solutions they offered him for any of the issues...just the dead ends.

Maybe he was just a crazy dude looking for an excuse to do what he did. Or maybe he really felt like the whole town was against him. None of us will know the real story I guess
 
The bit about him renegotiating/wanting more money is directly from one of the concrete plant owners (Susan Docheff of the Docheff Family). No one else. It’s not too unreasonable to think they’d paint him as the bad guy since he just mowed down their plant.

As far as him buying equipment to make the alternate access to his shop; the council never rebutted that and I’ve never read any solutions they offered him for any of the issues...just the dead ends.

Maybe he was just a crazy dude looking for an excuse to do what he did. Or maybe he really felt like the whole town was against him. None of us will know the real story I guess
This is one of those cases where I am almost interested enough to listen to the tapes he left behind and read through all the city council and zoning board meeting notes. Given the data sources and the way the media handles things I am not exactly married to my view.
 
Why have I never heard of this?
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I posted in the movie thread, but I just finished the documentary Tread.
As I stated months before seeing it, I knew there would be bias in it, it's too common in a documentary. And here I am not sure where the bias went, but it sort of showed him put into a bad situation, but, possibly, not willing to accept ways to get out of said situation. (ie: he put business up for sale, concrete folks willing to pay his asking price so he instantly raised price, they agree, again, and then he said 'no' and pulled the deal off the table. true? I dont know)

Did the concrete company block the road? The Tread movie made it seem like it was more about having water and sewage easement/pipelines, not a road to his shop. Was this correct?

His friends, and ex-gf, spoke very nice of him, how he was an upstanding man. But it seemed like his story wasnt matching up with what others said, but I know that they could have gotten together in these 15+ years to create the same story and, likely, have had to recite it many many times since the incident.

Corruption in government exists, no doubt.
 
Seems like there would be city council minutes of the times he went there.
In the movie I watched yesterday, it seemed (and, please, correct me if Im wrong) that they were not taken for those/his issues.

I left the movie not feeling like he was some great hero or true patriot
Was it ridiculous to have him tap into the town's sewage and water initially? Yes, i'll agree. But after that, I cant follow him.

Then his mission from God... That if he wasnt supposed to do that then the dozer would have sold or it wouldnt have fit into his shop etc
 
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And what did he accomplish? Tearing up a bunch of (other peoples) stuff and getting killed. No rights were gained and no injustices were corrected.

Not being the "hero" here.
 
I missed all this 15 years ago. Killdozer indeed. I do remember from time to time folks stealing tanks from the National Guard units and going on rampages.
 
I posted in the movie thread, but I just finished the documentary Tread.
As I stated months before seeing it, I knew there would be bias in it, it's too common in a documentary. And here I am not sure where the bias went, but it sort of showed him put into a bad situation, but, possibly, not willing to accept ways to get out of said situation. (ie: he put business up for sale, concrete folks willing to pay his asking price so he instantly raised price, they agree, again, and then he said 'no' and pulled the deal off the table. true? I dont know)

Did the concrete company block the road? The Tread movie made it seem like it was more about having water and sewage easement/pipelines, not a road to his shop. Was this correct?

His friends, and ex-gf, spoke very nice of him, how he was an upstanding man. But it seemed like his story wasnt matching up with what others said, but I know that they could have gotten together in these 15+ years to create the same story and, likely, have had to recite it many many times since the incident.

Corruption in government exists, no doubt.

Pretty much my feelings. Even the girl, who spoke so nicely of him, had that "look" in her eye explaining why she bailed. He lost his mind. He should have dealt with sewer line issue at the beginning. He dug his heels in and rode that anger into the ground. This dude could have easily made 400G and took off to anywhere he wanted. His property was a dump.

But, having been dealing with building depts and all their associated bureaucracies for 30 years, it brings me a dark secret joy. I have seen many people that have been screwed by people like this to varying degrees.
 
@NKD - it was a sewage issue, yes? In the original post here it seemed it was about not being able to get to his business ("In the process this blocked the only access road to the muffler shop.")

I worry that some will hold this dude up based on false information.

Yes, the 80k to do the sewer lines is a LOT of money, and I understand his aggravation about that situation.
And, yes, the woman that he loved and loved him didnt seem too keen on talking about his sanity etc

Again, smart man, the compressed air to blow off the portholes was really thinking ahead etc, but as smart as he was, he was a bit nutty.
 
With the current magazine capacity limits in Colorado, this could never again happen. ;)
 
@NKD - it was a sewage issue, yes? In the original post here it seemed it was about not being able to get to his business ("In the process this blocked the only access road to the muffler shop.")

I worry that some will hold this dude up based on false information.

Yes, the 80k to do the sewer lines is a LOT of money, and I understand his aggravation about that situation.
And, yes, the woman that he loved and loved him didnt seem too keen on talking about his sanity etc

Again, smart man, the compressed air to blow off the portholes was really thinking ahead etc, but as smart as he was, he was a bit nutty.

Well, and he was shooting with a .50 BMG as well, trying to blow up giant gas tanks. He failed in his mounting/shooting port so the rounds were hitting part of his vehicle. Can't say he was aiming at people, but sheesh.

And, 80G is a lot, but IDK. I think with a decent lawyer and seeing as how he has heavy equipment, I think a rational compromise could have been reached. A lot of that cost perhaps could have been mitigated. Maybe he trenches some of it, etc.
 
Well, and he was shooting with a .50 BMG as well, trying to blow up giant gas tanks. He failed in his mounting/shooting port so the rounds were hitting part of his vehicle. Can't say he was aiming at people, but sheesh.

And, 80G is a lot, but IDK. I think with a decent lawyer and seeing as how he has heavy equipment, I think a rational compromise could have been reached. A lot of that cost perhaps could have been mitigated. Maybe he trenches some of it, etc.

Did you watch Tread? Hear the tapes? I dont mean to be condescending or anything of that matter, but just curious what all you knew of the situation...and Im researching more as I go, I am, by far, no expert. But, that said, there seems to be some misinformation to help build this guy up.

His heavy equipment, the dozer, wasnt purchased until, from what I gathered, after GOD had spoken to him while in his hot tub and told him do this.

Going back to the blocked access thing, according to one source, "If so, you’d think he would have complained about it in his 2.5 hours of tapes he left behind and in his scribblings. Guess what? He never once mentions losing a road easement to his property." (https://killdozerbook.com/2018/09/bogus-killdozer-youtube-full-of-false-facts/)

Yes, the 50 cal on the back hitting the spike thing wasnt good thinking, but I think some earlier rounds DID clear the equipment. Some of the cops mentioned rounds going past them. (digging deeper, there were three rifles + at least the one pistol he used on himself, so maybe the shots mentioned were by the other rifles)
He also, according to reports, ran over a jersey barrier that had 3 LEO behind it just before he hit, that it seemed like he targeted it once he saw them there.

I dont know, man. The more I think about it the more I question the praise he has received for his actions.
Im enjoying finding out what I can about this, as it's and little known event. I appreicate you, @NKD , for your replies and information
 
I have been to Granby, CO. It's a town that is "on the way" to other yet even smaller places. Naturally, the tourist brochure omits this episode- If you hadn't known in advance, you would see no clues as to what happened and certainly its not a place I would have thought anyone would pitch a battle for or against anything notable.
 
Did you watch Tread? Hear the tapes? I dont mean to be condescending or anything of that matter, but just curious what all you knew of the situation...and Im researching more as I go, I am, by far, no expert. But, that said, there seems to be some misinformation to help build this guy up.

His heavy equipment, the dozer, wasnt purchased until, from what I gathered, after GOD had spoken to him while in his hot tub and told him do this.

Going back to the blocked access thing, according to one source, "If so, you’d think he would have complained about it in his 2.5 hours of tapes he left behind and in his scribblings. Guess what? He never once mentions losing a road easement to his property." (https://killdozerbook.com/2018/09/bogus-killdozer-youtube-full-of-false-facts/)

Yes, the 50 cal on the back hitting the spike thing wasnt good thinking, but I think some earlier rounds DID clear the equipment. Some of the cops mentioned rounds going past them. (digging deeper, there were three rifles + at least the one pistol he used on himself, so maybe the shots mentioned were by the other rifles)
He also, according to reports, ran over a jersey barrier that had 3 LEO behind it just before he hit, that it seemed like he targeted it once he saw them there.

I dont know, man. The more I think about it the more I question the praise he has received for his actions.
Im enjoying finding out what I can about this, as it's and little known event. I appreicate you, @NKD , for your replies and information

Didn't mean to imply he bought dozer earlier, just that he had the means to get equipment to dig a trench, judging by the money he seemed to spend. If you can buy a dozer, you can rent a ditch witch. Seemed like the kind of guy who could accomplish that, and the success of the killdozer project seems to confirm that suspicion.

I had read about it when it happened, then a few things like the wiki page prior to the movie, which I waited to see when it was free. Watched that about 4 days ago.
Certainly not an expert. Just seems like a guy who thought everyone was out to get him, and had voices in his head.

Basically, in my world:
If you talk to God about your problems, it is called "praying".
If God is talking to you about your problems, it is called "schizophrenia".
 
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Regan was shot the next day, That's why it did not make national news. And among the many reasons that it is omitted from history books.
Why would this one day event make any history books? lol
 
Why would this one day event make any history books? lol
Well.... In that Big Brother always wins - This is an example where political corruption sought to benefit the wealthy and the working stiff was tossed aside for the enrichment on the few. Granted, the wealthy and politically corrupts and advantaged in control, maintained their power and advantage. This man made their evil ways cost them dearly. I am just one guy, but I think that is significant in American history. This man was a Patriot who returned from war, worked his arse off and then started his own business. He achieved "The American dream". And by no fault of his own Corrupt politicians and wealthy elitist wanted what he had. They got it in the end but he showed them what it would cost. He gave hos life for his passion and for what he saw was "do the right thing"' .
 
Well.... In that Big Brother always wins - This is an example where political corruption sought to benefit the wealthy and the working stiff was tossed aside for the enrichment on the few. Granted, the wealthy and politically corrupts and advantaged in control, maintained their power and advantage. This man made their evil ways cost them dearly. I am just one guy, but I think that is significant in American history. This man was a Patriot who returned from war, worked his arse off and then started his own business. He achieved "The American dream". And by no fault of his own Corrupt politicians and wealthy elitist wanted what he had. They got it in the end but he showed them what it would cost. He gave hos life for his passion and for what he saw was "do the right thing"' .
I agree with almost every single bit of this.
Man risked his life and time for the service of our nation. Achieved the American Dream by creating his own wealth etc. Gave his life for his passion and died for what he saw was the right thing.

But I dont see him as someone to be praised, and Im happy to change my mind if facts are presented, but it just seems the more I listen, watch, and read that he was a nutty dude who was a bit unreasonable when offered with his asking price for his business etc

But, we all have our opinions, that's cool. Hve an awesome weekend duder
 
Just watched it on Netflix.

 
He drove himself crazy. Created enemies in his own sick mind. At least he didn't force a cop to put him out of misery.
 
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