General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIndiana Legalizes Shooting Cops
RT
Published: 11 June, 2012, 21:31
Reuters/Vincent West
Hold onto your holsters, folks: shooting a cop dead is now legal in the state of Indiana. Governor Mitch Daniels, a Republican, has authorized changes to a 2006 legislation that legalizes the use of deadly force on a public servant including an officer of the law in cases of unlawful intrusion. Proponents of both the Second and Fourth Amendments those that allow for the ownership of firearms and the security against unlawful searches, respectively are celebrating the update by saying it ensures that residents are protected from authorities that abuse the powers of the badge.
Others, however, fear that the alleged threat of a police state emergence will be replaced by an all-out warzone in Indiana. Under the latest changes of the so-called Castle Doctrine, state lawmakers agree people have a right to defend themselves and third parties from physical harm and crime. Rather than excluding officers of the law, however, any public servant is now subject to be met with deadly force if they unlawfully enter private property without clear justification.
In enacting this section, the general assembly finds and declares that it is the policy of this state to recognize the unique character of a citizen's home and to ensure that a citizen feels secure in his or her own home against unlawful intrusion by another individual or a public servant, reads the legislation.
Although critics have been quick to condemn the law for opening the door for assaults on police officers, supporters say that it is necessary to implement the ideals brought by Americas forefathers. Especially, argue some, since the Indiana Supreme Court almost eliminated the Fourth Amendment entirely last year. During the 2011 case of Barnes v. State of Indiana, the court ruled that a man who assaulted an officer dispatched to his house had broken the law before there was no right to reasonably resist unlawful entry by police officers. In turn, the National Rifle Association lobbied for an amendment to the Castle Doctrine to ensure that residents were protected from officers that abuse the law to grant themselves entry into private space.
MORE
[font color=blue] - Fun fact: You can also marry your first cousin if you live in Indiana, but you both have to be at least 65 years of age. And of opposite sex. [/font]
=====================================================================
[font color=blue]DeSwiss[/font]
[center][/center]
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)Just like Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
AhmsoRealwidit
(17 posts)Response to DeSwiss (Original post)
tralala This message was self-deleted by its author.
Initech
(100,079 posts)RC
(25,592 posts)More US vs THEM. Removing our rights in the name of security brings on shit like this.
The police will use this as an excuse for the next step of oneupmanship. End result, Predator drones coming to a neighborhood near you? The police can't read address now. Something to think about.
hack89
(39,171 posts)I see this as a problem that needed fixing.
AhmsoRealwidit
(17 posts)WingDinger
(3,690 posts)changes your mind about pigs. Trust me. I very easily could have been shot dead in my doorway.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Might put an end to no knock entries and other such police excesses.
obamanut2012
(26,079 posts)SGMRTDARMY
(599 posts)it puts public servants on notice that they will be held accountable for their illegal actions now. LEO get away with way to much and are not held accountable for beating suspects, unprovoked killings, tazing for no other purpose than they can.
Don't get me wrong, I am pro police and I know that the vast majority of LEO's are fair, honorable cops who truly want to make their communities safer to live in, but when you have rogue cops, they give all LEO a bad name and when their Depts. refuse to deal with them or defend them, thats where they lose the public trust.
AhmsoRealwidit
(17 posts)spanone
(135,841 posts)ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)AJTheMan
(288 posts)AJTheMan
(288 posts)If the police officer doesn't identify himself and just illegally enters someone's house without knocking or anything, then they should be treated as any other intruder. No special cases just because you have a badge. If you want to talk to someone, knock on the door. Don't just mosey into other people's property.