I can think of few things more scary than having the police come crashing through the door, shoot any dogs (and possibly people) that they startle, and then proceed to turn the house upside down while holding guns to the head of anyone not previously shot. They may eventually produce a warrant, but that might not come for a few days.
Bad enough if you are guilty...unimaginable if you are innocent.
This happens. In this country. Tens of thousands of times a year. And people die. Innocent people die.
It's both scary as an event and for what it means about our democracy.
For in-depth info about this scenario, which is in the news recently due to an innocent mayor, Cheye Calvo, having it happen to him, check out any or all of these Cato Institute podcasts:
Short discussion: "SWAT Team Abuse in Berwyn Heights" featuring Cheye Calvo (9 minutes)
Or download it directly here.
Short discussion: "What's Wrong With No-Knock Raids" featuring Radley Balko (15 minutes)
Full discussion: Should No-Knock Police Raids be Rare-or Routine?
Download it here.
Cato event page here.
