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To: NYFriend
the “unreasonable search” part of the Constitution is difficult

Yes, but that means those under color of law need to be more - not less - careful of the rights of citizens.

I have a real, adamantly held problem with the police using tactics that can so easily be abused by criminals. A criminal who is willing to invade my home is not likely to feel any prohibition on yelling "Police!" while he does it. The only way to stop that is to make that tactic uninviting to the criminals, which means, to make it unbelievable because the real police never do it.

The only reason for a no-knock invasion - the ONLY reason - is if there are innocents in the building who will be immediately killed by those inside if the suspected perpetrators have any warning.

It's not enough that they might flush drugs away. Too bad, but it's not worth the potential for a no-knock invasion of an innocent who reacts quite properly to the invasion of his home. It's not enough that they might get guns because the cops can hold out a lot longer than those in a building can, so a warning doesn't let the bad guys get away. If there is reason to suspect a knock on the door might be met with violence, then 'knock' with a bullhorn from behind a car door. It's a terrible, terrible thought that a child-pornographer might use the warning time to delete his files (by the way, how often does that happen?) but it's an unacceptable thought that criminals yelling "Police" might invade someone's home because the police have established that tactic as reasonable.
20 posted on 02/26/2008 11:54:17 AM PST by Phlyer
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To: Phlyer
If they kill power to the house then a pornographer can’t do that. Simple.

You are right. Kicking in the door is only acceptable if there are lives on the line. At the very least a cops life is worth no less.

26 posted on 02/26/2008 12:10:04 PM PST by TalonDJ
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