Let’s begin with a definition.
No-knock warrant: a warrant issued by a judge that allows law enforcement officers to enter a property without immediate prior notification of the residents, such as by knocking or ringing a doorbell
The no-knock warrant is a “evolution” of police procedures brought on by the war on drugs. The rationale is that if you announce yourself before entering a property, evidence (mostly drugs) can be flushed down the toilet or otherwise disposed of. So instead of ringing the doorbell, they either kick down or blow up your front door and pop in smoke grenades and bum rush your house.
While it is logical to understand that the element of surprise stops criminals from disposing of evidence, but what about the THOUSANDS of other times when a warrant is served at the wrong address?
Children terrified, dogs shot, homes destroyed etc etc. I guess innocent until proven guilty doesn’t extend to a paramilitary force busting down your door in the middle of the night looking for evidence.
And what you receive to placate your traumatized children, dead dog, home damages and beaten spouse? “Whoops…sorry about that.”
But this isn’t even the most volatile of situations. What happens when you are a lawful citizen who keeps and bears arms?
I won’t assume anything for you, but if a bunch of armed men, dressed in black wearing ski masks break down my door at night its bullets first, questions later.
Unfortunately, in all states except Indiana, it is unlawful to shoot a police officer in the above or following scenario. If it is a group of armed criminal home invaders wearing all black with ski masks, then it’s ok, but if it is police, you’re out of luck. As a gun owner, do you want to take that chance?
Scenario: I’m on the couch watching late night tv, dog is by my feet, wife curled up next to me, kids soundly asleep upstairs when all of a sudden the front door explodes open. A group of armed ninjas bust in and shoot my dog because he had the audacity to bark at them.
49 states would have you first engage these men in dialogue to ascertain why they just attacked your house in the middle of the night. Barring freezing up due to panic (which happens), if you have a gun handy and aren’t shooting then I say there is something wrong with you.
Your wife’s and kids’ lives are in the balance, not to mention your own, and you are going to ask the men who bombarded your house to please identify themselves before you engage in your own self defense? That’s ridiculous and also a good way to get yourself killed, your wife raped, your children kidnapped and your house looted…you’re dogs all ready been shot.
It’s an axiom of gun owners and holds true here…it’s better to be judged by 12 than carried by six.
The negatives of no-knock warrants far outweigh the perceived benefits and it is about time that states and the courts took a long hard look at curtailing and eliminating this unconstitutional action.
I mean, what is more of an unreasonable search and seizure than being attacked by armed hooded thugs who break down your door in the middle of the night without announcing themselves a cops? Even if they do announce themselves, the warrant is to look for evidence, a no-knock warrant assumes your guilt and that the evidence is all ready there.
Perhaps this wouldn’t be such a big deal if cops getting it wrong was rare…but it’s not.
Cop Shoots service dog servicing warrant at wrong house
Army Vets dog killed when police raiding wrong apartment
Pittsburgh woman’s apartment ransacked with 2 children inside on a warrant with bad information. “The way they all came in here and just threw smoke bombs and kicked in the door, we could have gotten hurt,” Earnest said.
Cops Raid Wrong House, Threaten Children and Kill Their Dog
And those were just a few in the past 90 days. I didn’t want to link ad nauseum so I kept it to 5 examples that cover the basics, children terrified, dogs shot, houses ransacked, husband killed, wife roughed up etc. Remember, these people are INNOCENT.
This is still America and no knock warrants have no place here. The innocent are supposed to be protected from both criminals AND cops. The 2nd Amendment is for the former, the 4th Amendment is for the latter.
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