No-knock police raid ends in blazing tragedy

WND ^ | 02/11/2015 | Leo Hohmann

[Forgotten Amendments]

I wanted to check the reaction of the cop defenders. I see that we can no longer view the comments on www.policeone.com

They usually confirm every terrible suspicion you ever had about lunatic cops. So, naturally, now they are hidden.

[ConservingFreedom]

"PoliceOne comments can only be accessed by verified law enforcement professionals." Yup, they have to hide from us while thumping their chests at each other.

[edwinland]

Plants were 6 inches, not 6 feet.

And the guns were legally owned & locked in a safe.

Where have we seen this before?

[i_robot73]

Ha, quite possibly true; but I put more (blind) faith in the police than I would a KNOWN element of crime (informants).

Though, I don’t recall any blow-back from the Duke lacrosse, or Brawley, or...Hell, women falsely accusing their spouses of abuse/etc. during divorce would fall into that category IMHO.

Course, I also believe those ‘in power’ should be held and sentenced more harshly too....

[edwinland]

Officers included a line on the warrant that Magee also had “possible illegal guns” stolen from the local sheriff’s office. The local magistrate signed off on the warrant, with deadly consequences.

According to the article, the guy had 4 legal guns, three in a safe and one in his hands. Even in Texas, criminal background checks are required to purchase a gun. Does this mean the police would have knopwn that he had the legal guns? Does anyone from Texas know the answer to that question?

My point is that if they knew he had legal guns, wouldn't that be just as scary (from a no-knock perspective) as if he had illegal guns?

So why not mention the real legal guns instead of merely speculating about illegal guns?

Could it be that legal guns can't support a no knock warrant in Texas but illegal ones can?

Any Texas lawyer know the answer to that question?

[ConservingFreedom]

I don’t recall any blow-back from the Duke lacrosse, or Brawley, or...Hell, women falsely accusing their spouses of abuse/etc. during divorce would fall into that category IMHO.

Holding women accountable for lying to authorities about men would be a "war on women" donchaknow.

Of course, holding Amish informants accountable for lying to authorities would probably be "racist" ...

[SgtHooper]

Whole-heartedly agree!

“possible” illegal guns...what a crock! So all the LEO need do is bring the “illegal” gun with them and plant it. They are then home free.

[Svartalfiar]

According to the article, the guy had 4 legal guns, three in a safe and one in his hands. Even in Texas, criminal background checks are required to purchase a gun. Does this mean the police would have knopwn that he had the legal guns? Does anyone from Texas know the answer to that question?

You go through the quick NICS check when you purchase a firearm. That record is only kept by the FFL who sells the firearm to you (and the FBI/NSA when you run the check of course). The state/county/city isn't notified or anything every time someone buys a firearm, and I doubt the FBI would tell them if they asked (NICS checks aren't supposed to be recorded!). Also, you can purchase a firearm in a private sale, cash trade. The only thing they mean by saying he had 4 legal guns is that they haven't been reported as stolen.

[Svartalfiar]

Every little police force gets federal grant money and weapons to have their own SWAT unit. I would vote for SWAT to be only attached to the state police, and local agencies having to request them (and JUSTIFY the request!).

State or county level. Sheriff's office maybe. But there's no reason for any city (and every city) to have their own SWAT team.

[i_robot73]

I know...WHAT was I THINKING?! That ‘all equal under the Law’ is so, so....blase!

[PapaBear3625]

State or county level. Sheriff's office maybe. But there's no reason for any city (and every city) to have their own SWAT team.

"Major" cities (NYC, LA, Chicago) might justify them, but that would create a slippery slope as second-tier cities then demanded their own. Better to have it be a state function, and have the state permanently station a SWAT unit in any region whose legitimate needs for one would justify it.

As a state unit, it would also make it cost effective to have the team be very highly trained, and give them helicopter transport to get to the scene where they are needed.