Pubdate: Sun, 13 Oct 2002
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2002 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Joe Rosenberg

NO-KNOCK SWAT RAIDS ARE DANGER TO PUBLIC

All wars have casualties, yet the "war on drugs" has the dubious 
distinction of catching American civilians in its crossfire ("War on drugs 
can claim a deadly victory," Dispatch, Monday). Police are increasingly 
turning to SWAT teams to raid suspects' homes, and those SWAT teams are 
increasingly turning to "no-knock" searches.

Basically, a no-knock warrant is served by a large group of heavily armed 
men kicking in the door in the middle of the night and aiming firearms at 
terrified occupants.These SWAT team members wear all black, including 
facemasks. They wear more body armor than we issue to the military. They 
carry fully automatic MP5 submachine guns. Even U.S. Marine Corps 
infantrymen do not carry fully automatic rifles. The government has 
determined these weapons are inefficient for all but the highly trained 
Special Forces.

And when these Men in Black kick in the door, often waking residents from 
sleep, any sudden movement or attempts at defense are justification for 
shooting. If you reach for a weapon to defend against what you believe to 
be burglars, you may be shot. If you lunge for the phone on the dresser to 
dial 911, you may be shot.

And for those who believe that suspicion of illegal activity should carry 
such risks, know that these searches have been performed on the wrong house 
on several occasions. Individuals not even suspected of a crime have been 
killed because police got the address wrong. Something must change before 
this "war" claims more victims.

Joe Rosenberg

Columbus
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