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A tribute to Condoleeza Rice and George W. Bush who, despite voluminious evidence to the contrary, said, "I don't think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon, that they would try to use an airplane as a missile," adding that "even in retrospect" there was "nothing" to suggest that" and "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees," respectively.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Supreme Court Decision Endangers Police
Our laws have long reflected the notion that a "man's home is his castle." It is the last place of refuge which can be defended like no other. This was true prior to the recent ruling by the Supreme Court that police, armed with a warrant, do not need to "knock and announce" before entering the home. Recent state Supreme Court rulings that allow the police to enter the homes of suspected drunk drivers without a warrant at all, also diminish this cherish American notion.
Well anyway, why do I opine that this ruling will actually put police officers' lives in jeopardy. Suppose you're sitting in your house with your spouse and kids and suddenly there's a crashing sound and unknown people are entering your house. At this point, you don't know whether this is a now proper police procedure by officers with a warrant or a home invasion. If they haven't announced that they are law enforcement, wouldn't the natural inclination be to find something with which to defend yourself, your spouse, your kids? If you shoot an announced intruder to protect your spouse, kids and yourself, isn't that a pretty good justification to use in court?
The first time a suspect wounds or kills an officer who has not identified himself before entering a home, you can expect the defense to make this argument.
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Well anyway, why do I opine that this ruling will actually put police officers' lives in jeopardy. Suppose you're sitting in your house with your spouse and kids and suddenly there's a crashing sound and unknown people are entering your house. At this point, you don't know whether this is a now proper police procedure by officers with a warrant or a home invasion. If they haven't announced that they are law enforcement, wouldn't the natural inclination be to find something with which to defend yourself, your spouse, your kids? If you shoot an announced intruder to protect your spouse, kids and yourself, isn't that a pretty good justification to use in court?
The first time a suspect wounds or kills an officer who has not identified himself before entering a home, you can expect the defense to make this argument.
