[Bruce Campbells Chin]

There are good and valid reasons for no knock warrants. If you're going up against some heavily armed drug types, or maybe some kind of armed radicals, the element of surprise may be critical.

The problem is that they also have the potential to go very, very wrong.

[precisionshootist]

Its about time. No knock warrants need to be gone for good with absolutely no exceptions.

Next SWAT teams need to go. Peace officers never have a legitimate use for military weapons or explosives of any kind. Next peace officers should never posses military equipment or training of any kind and should never be allowed to wear any color uniform other than blue.

This may sound silly at first but militarization of police power is the reason we have arrived at the conflict that we have today.

[yukong]

Horrible idea.

Pursuant to Wilson v. Arkansas, 514 U.S. 927 (1995). a US Supreme Court case, law enforcement officers executing a search warrant may not immediately force their way into a residence. Instead, they must first knock and announce their identity and intent. Then, they must wait a reasonable amount of time to allow an occupant to open the door. Only after waiting may the police force entry. This “knock-and-announce rule” is one of the factors a court must consider in its reasonableness test.

Police may only disregard the knock-and-announce rule when it is reasonable to do so. In Richards v. Wisconsin, 520 U.S. 358 (1997), the Supreme Court held that a no-knock entry is justified when, under the circumstances, knocking and announcing their presence “would be dangerous or futile, or that it would inhibit the effective investigation of the crime.”

Many states already have laws stating the issuing magistrate must approve “no-knock” warrants in advance upon a showing of necessity.

Under federal law, According to the United States Department of Justice:

Federal judges and magistrates may lawfully and constitutionally issue “no-knock” warrants where circumstances justify a no-knock entry, and federal law enforcement officers may lawfully apply for such warrants under such circumstances.

My point...there are already checks and balances on the “no-knock” warrant issue. There are many times a “no-knock” is necessary. First and foremost is officer safety. But also, it can help preserve evidence from destruction.

[Sans-Culotte]

No-Knock warrants should be abolished. I think it is a joke to even refer to them as a warrant being served when you're breaking down someone's door. It's not worth innocent people getting killed because of a fear they'll flush the drugs.

The only reason for a No-Knock IMO would be terrorism related, such as stopping an impending terrorist attack.

[JimRed]

That’s right, knock and announce yourself...give the perps time to grab their weapons and shoot you, or to dispose of evidence, or to kill hostages.

BUT it should ONLY be used in appropriate circumstances.