Police don't have to knock, CNN article

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

But if folks are intent on screaming that this is Yet Another Sign Of The Impending Fascist Apocalypse, far be it from me to spoil their fun by continuing to try to draw attention to the facts.

I agree that the thread title was misleading.

However, I do have an issue with watering down the fourth amendment. Just remember that technically, the person into whose house the police are storming is innocent. In cases in the past this has been proven to be true, sometimes with fatal results.

During raids, police are concerned with their own safety, sometimes more than for that of the individuals they are arresting. Unfortunately, innocent people are more at risk than criminals. A true criminal being raided can choose to fight, flee, or surrender. He or she probably has enough experience and the knowledge of his or her guilt to at least expect the possiblity of a raid and therefore has the time to prepare. Also, through actual experience or by those of associates, has the knowledge to prepare a response.

An innocent person has no such preparation. If we are occupied at some task in our houses, watching TV, reading a paper, etc, how many of us would be able to process a sudden knock at the door and a muffled word in 3 to 5 seconds? At night, how many would recognize the intruders as police? Of the Cellar users with guns, how many might have already drawn a weapon by the time the police cleared the door?

Turning police into home invaders might catch more criminals, but it also puts the public at risk.