I didn't just say "drugs being flushed," but included dangerous suspects. As it happens, most drug dealers also have lengthy criminal records for violence before they start picking up felony charges for drugs, and then they get habitual felony offender enhancements (for all their previous violent felonies), the amount and diversity of drugs they are ultimately caught with (each drug is a different charge), and random stuff like having the drugs in a Drug Free Zone.
Basically the entire war on drugs is a great way of getting rid of violent offenders for 20 or so years.
What person, and that includes cops, would not reach for a weapon when the door of their home is broken down in the middle of the night amid unintelligible shouts?
I've never heard of such a scenario actually occurring where criminals shout and break down the door. In a murder case I am familiar with, they used an agent in the house to unlock the door. Then they rushed in, marched the guy up to the bedroom, and then executed him.
I've also seen them go in through open windows, and stomp down doors only when they think no one is there.
But I have never heard of a case where armed men "shouted unintellegibly" and burst through the door.
Lastly, are there States where warrants are actually executed at night? I'm not aware of that being the case in Texas. I suspect that is not legal anywhere.
Perhaps the scenario I painted (shouting, nighttime) isn’t accurate. Ok.
But what about my main point? That busting down the door of a private residence in a nation with 120,000,000 gun owners is very likely going to lead to needless maiming or death of either the homeowners or the cops?
As another FReeper stated above, why not employ some patience and lie in wait for them when they go out for a Big Mac? Outside of a hostage situation, no-knock warrants are a poor choice.
Here are few, so you can educate yourself.
It is a pretty common occurrence.
Here is a home invasion where the perps knocked for about a minute.
Here is another case where the suspect was banging on the door, then eventually got shot, trying to force his way in.
Here is another "heard loud banging at his back door" before the perp was shot.
This one was "banging on the doors and windows at her residence" before being shot.
Here is another one, this guy appears to have been drunk, banging on the door, demanding to be let in.
Here is another, where the perp was banging on the front door, eventually broke the side window, and was shot inside.
Further investigation and a conversation with the homeowner provided more detail about the incident which apparently began when he heard loud banging at his front door. The homeowner said the suspect broke the glass next to the front door and reached to unlock it before making entry. Police said that as Jackson made his way up the stairs, the homeowner grabbed a rifle and shot several times in the alleged robber's general direction.
Here is another, where a grandmother shot a home invader who was banging, banging, banging
"First I thought I was dreaming and then I looked out the window, outside. I was still hearing the banging, banging, banging, so I yelled to whoever, 'Who's that on my door? Get off my door, get off my door,'" Thompson explained.
Here is a home invasion where the homeowner was awakened by a loud banging on the door.
A man, who along with his wife and young child, were awakened at 4:55 a.m. by a loud banging at the front door. The homeowner grabbed his 9 mm handgun and went to investigate.