|| By FITSNEWS || This website has long opposed the use of “no-knock raids” by law enforcement – especially as part of government’s costly, totally ineffective, anti-liberty “War on Drugs.”
The most compelling statement we’ve ever heard made (to date) against this tactic? The 2011 song “No Knock Raid” by Canadian alt-rocker Lindy.
In case you’ve never heard it, it’s nothing short of amazing … although be warned, it contains clips from actual police paramilitary assaults, and as such is exceedingly graphic.
Take a look …
(Click to play)
(Vid: Via)
We bring this issue up in the context of columnist Bonnie Kristian‘s report on Rare.com about Orangeburg, S.C. resident Joel Robinson. – who was the victim of an early morning “no-knock raid” at his home last October.
From the report …
Alarmed and assuming he was experiencing a home invasion, Robinson grabbed his gun and fled out the back door. As he ran to safety, he shot one of the men he thought was a burglar in the arm.
It was then that Robinson realized that the home invaders were actually federal agents, officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who were executing a search warrant on his home on the suspicion that he’d been manufacturing the drug PCP. Robinson, who had never shot anyone before, immediately dropped his weapon and was arrested.
Seems like a simple case of self-defense, right? Robinson had no way to initially know that the men storming his house were federal agents; he didn’t kill anyone; and as soon as he understood what was happening, he gave up his gun.
Unfortunately, the DEA and the local justice system thought otherwise: Because even accidentally shooting a federal agent counts as assault, Robinson was hit with a whole host of charges—enough to get him a life sentence if convicted for all of them.
His charges included manufacturing and intending to distribute illegal drugs, but no drugs were ever found in his house.
But justice prevailed, right? No.
Not even close …
To avoid a three-decade prison sentence, Robinson was forced to accept a plea deal that will keep him behind bards for eight years. He also agreed to pay the DEA agent’s medical bills (even though U.S. taxpayers already covered those costs via his insurance policy).
Insane …
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The War on Drugs is a failure. One that’s cost this country more than $1 trillion. And innumerable liberties. And its prosecution via “no knock raids” is exceedingly dangerous. And even more of an affront to liberty.
We’re not going to deify Robinson – or demonize the cops who participated in this raid – but the bottom line is the entire situation was 100 percent preventable.
24 comments
Don’t look at us. The war on drugs is a cornerstone of ‘Republican’ ideology.
I wonder if anyone would ever take such a case to trial and see if the jury would nullify the charge. Probably not, seeing as how that’s an awful big risk. That’s probably the only way to ever bring about change, though.
Sadly, the concept of jury nullification is one of the best kept secrets of our “justice” system, with only the best informed and most aware even having heard of it. Few if any judges will allow it to be mentioned in “their” courtrooms. It is a valid concept that any thinking person who might one day wind up on a jury owes it to themselves, potential defendants, and society, to become familiar with.
Nullification is not allowed to be mentioned by that name or any direct explanation. A good attorney can craft an argument for the jury to do what is right, follow its conscience, etc., but he cannot tell the jury to ignore the law.
Sounds like an appeal for “inadequate representation” is called for.
Why don’t you link to the report you’re quoting from at length?
Google is your friend: http://rare.us/story/this-mans-life-was-ruined-because-federal-drug-agents-stormed-his-house-unannounced/
That doesn’t answer the question.
He’s lazy? Nah, that ain’t it, he linked The State’s stories…
Law “enforcement” and the “criminal justice” system can do no wrong in this country when it comes to shit like this.
Many reports of busting into the wrong house and terrorizing the holy shit out of “MeMaw & Pepaw”, totally destroying their house and then discovering they had the wrong address or the grow lights were for “maters” or cactus instead of reefer.
Guess what?? Tough shit when it comes to filing a claim or suing for damages.
Makes me distrust law “enforcement” more every day.
You won’t find a “thin blue line” tag or decal on any of my vehicles I can tell you that.
FWIW, the Blue Line Identifiers are not to show support for LE as much as they were (originally) a way for off-duty LEO’s to let other LEO’s know who and what they were for purposes of giving/receiving assistance, professional courtesy, and the like. Those have pretty much become passe’ and useless since every swinging dick and twat has one on their car, more often than not, with no relative or other connection to law enforcement. Some cops I know would make a point upon stopping a violator who was sporting a BLI on their vehicle, what their connection to law enforcement was. If a suitable answer was not forthcoming, instead of a warning, the violator got a real ticket plus any others for additional violations that could be found such as slick tires, burned out lights, etc to demonstrate how their improper display of a BLI would not get them off the hook.
PBA decals in Florida used to be the ticket until some jackwagon telemarketer promised a reporter they could never get a ticket if they paid for the highest level.The spiel was supposed to be “If you are pulled over, an officer will recognize that you care about his professional issues!” (hint, hint). SOB ruined it for professional drivers throughout the state.
Here, the SCLEOA and FOP, decals are still found with the same intent. I would never contribute to either as they both seem to hold the Bill of Rights in disdain and the Second Amendment, in particular.
Number one: I am a “swinging dick” and I don’t have one.
So “John Law” abused the power of authority to teach someone a lesson -that’s fucking great and just made that citizen never to support law enforcement for any reason. Thank you for making my point about abuse of power.
“Professional Courtesy” huh? that’s just another way of saying ‘don’t worry about getting a ticket or a DUI charge” – another example of abuse of power and favoritism.
Due to shit like the article and so many times over the years that “law enforcement” burst in a citizens house and totally ruin their lives because some snitch gave the wrong information or totally bogus intel and ruined these innocent citizens lives forever From what I understand you can’t sue them for damages like you can any other professional like a doctor for malpractice.
They claim to be professionals – fine you should be able to sue for damages since they are “professionals” Just like you can doctors,professional engineers and even lawyers for shit like this.
89$/hour I looked at the draft which said $9958@mk2
e…..
http://www.TheGlobalworkworldJobs/tap/tab….
The intent of the “No Knock” warrant is to buy time to breach the door before making entry. I can assure you that once the door was breached the officers announced their identity and intentions very loud and clear.
To obtain a “No Knock” warrant the reasons have to be articulated to a judge who signs the warrant. The purpose of it is valid. This is the real world where people shoot at the police. We should not make it a game of “hide and seek, Ready or not here I come”.
I wonder how many of you would want to be the first man or women thru the door after you have politely knocked and given the suspect(s) time to prepare. Not many im guessing.
“Criminal Justice” is an industry in the USSA.
Couple of things…
First of all, most of these piss-ant drug raids (all the way from local Barney Fifes up to and including the feds) can be accomplished much more efficiently and safely by simply WAITING FOR THE DUMBASS TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE. In a few situations this tactic won’t work, but in the vast majority of instances it would. As a perfect example, simply waiting and picking of David Koresh outside of his compound would have very liekly prevented the Waco debacle in its entirety. Waiting, however, requires, well, waiting. This is apparently hard to do for Merrell-wearing SWAT teams pretending to be Delta guys.
Second, my favorite line in the piece was, “Robinson was forced to accept a plea deal that will keep him behind bards for eight years.” Behind which bards, exactly? John Dowland? Robert Johnson? Ol’ Willie Shakespeare?
Didn’t Koresh get his haircut in town on a regular basis? That situation always bugged me. That incident was the second reason I cancelled a dinner date with Janet Reno.
He *routinely* went to town, and was well known by the local sheriff (who repeatedly offered to meet with him). I will spare you the 2-hour case study on the ATF / FBI’s mishandling of that nonsense through which I run third-year terrorism students, but it would be comical had it not been so tragic.
I understand….
Yep, lots & lots of testosterone just waiting for a lawful excuse to kick ass
The late Gil Scott-Heron called out the government on “No Knock’ way back in 1971 when Nixon’s attorney general, John Mitchell, was pushing it. Mitchell said of “No Knock” laws: “This country is going so far to the right you won’t recognize it.” That’s the same John Mitchell who was subsequently convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy and served 19 months in the federal pen.
Check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKJziJGrASo
And the DEA’s own violation of OSH standards for conducting a no-knock raid suggests to me that the authorizing magistrate and commanding officer MUST be fined and charged with complicity.