We don’t see criminal syndicates fighting in the streets over shoe-sales territory, now do we? Nor do we see alcohol pushers shooting each other. You get the picture.

As it is, the criminals have a very profitable, government-enforced monolopy on drugs. Now think of all the pink slips that would have to be issued under total legalization…. Hence it won’t happen soon. Too much money in it– for both the governments and the gangs.

And we get stuck in the middle with this stupid shit, paying out of our wallets and out of our civil rights.

Now, tell me more about how carefully planned these things are.

I am in favor of laws relieving residents of any responsibility either civil or criminal in the death or injury of anyone breaking down the door. If an officer dies doing this in all but extreme instances, for instance a hostage situation, or being fired upon at approach, then his death or injury should just be considered a cost of doing business from the department’s standpoint and the price of getting to have all that fun from the officer’s standpoint.

Now, I expect that stance will anger a great many people, especially cops. But I would also bet if that proposal could become law there would all of a sudden appear more effective, more efficient and less deadly tactics (read “safer for everyone”) becoming the preferred methods.

OK. Lets roll play. You smash in my door, anounce that you’re a cop. And I’m supposed to believe you…why?

Lets turn it around. Say I smash in your door and announce that I’m from the FBI (which I’m not). You believe everything you hear from the mouth of someone who just smashed in your door?

Now lets say that a burglar smashes in your door an announces that he’s a cop. You’d believe him of course, ’cause anyone who smashes in other people’s doors is most likely telling the truth?

Further, lets say that some clever burglar, or someone who has a vendetta against cops, goes to XYZ rentals and gets a cop uniform, then smashes in your door and announces that he’s a cop. You’d totally believe that, ’cause, again, anyone who smashes in doors is to be considered most trustworthy. And we all know that anyone who wears what appears to be a uniform is completely beyond suspition of any kind. That’s it?

Now lets say that you smash in my door, and I’m sitting in front of the TV cleaning one of my many guns, which I do often, you announce that you’re a cop, and I’m dumb enough to believe you ’cause apparently I’m dumb as a rock. Assuming all that, you see the gun in my hand, and; A. You tell me that it’s a fine piece of hardware I have there, and you ask me the caliber and how much I paid for it. or B. You start shooting. I’ll give you one guess.

B – What would you expect him to say? Yeah, I just shot a cop?

I’m a cop and have been on several drug raids. Pre-raid planning is standard to the point of having photos (and sometimes video) of the exterior, and sometimes floorplans of the house. We ALWAYS announce who we are. Do drug raids go as planned? No, 99.9% of the time they are conducted with no one getting hurt; but .1% of the time something bad happens. When it does, its investigated 8 ways from Sunday and (hopefully) lessons are learned.

If he shot through the door, he’s probably cooked.

Knocking is a good procedure.