High court clashes over police search evidence

[danarhea]

I would argue that kicking down someone's door without knocking first is about the dumbest thing that a law enforcement officer can do, and he is asking for a lot of trouble if this is what he is allowed to do.

I dont know how it is in your city, but here in Houston, home invasions happen all the time, and sometimes the victims are killed by the invaders, even if they cooperate with them and give them what they want. Also, there have been quite a few instances here in Houston where the police have gone to the wrong home. For the citizen, this gets confusing, so it boils down to this - Are the cops going to be allowed to kick down someone's door without a warrant? All I know is that, if someone kicks down my door, I will shoot him or them. I am not going to take chances, and ask if he is a law enforcement officer hitting the wrong residence or a home invader. No way. I wont have time. In a home invasion situation, every second counts. You need to eliminate the threat ASAP, and I keep my weapons loaded, just so I am prepared to deal with that kind of threat. So, in the end, I wont ask questions if my door is kicked in. I will just shoot to kill, and ask that question after he is dead. I hope its not a law enforcement officer, but if it is, it is his own fault for not knocking. There are many here in Houston who feel exactly the same way, and will do the same. With the home invasion problem as it is, kicking down doors without knocking is about the dumbest thing any cop could ever do.

Article is here.

 

[scottyz]

The whole idea of no knock warrants irk me. If a bunch of dudes with guns kicked down my door I am probably not going to take it in stride and why should anyone else? You're not going to know if they are officers or home invaders. If you're the wrong person and they kill you the officer will probably get a slap on the wrist for his mistake, but you'll be dead.