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Title: 'Justice for Breonna Taylor Act': Rand Paul filing bill to ban no-knock warrants nationwide
Source:
Louisville Courier-Journal
URL Source: https://www.courier-journal.com/sto ... -no-knock-warrants/5345478002/
Published: Jun 11, 2020
Author: Phillip M. Bailey, Tessa Duvall
Post Date: 2020-06-14 02:51:35 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1844
Comments: 10
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is filing legislation to prohibit police officers across the country from using no-knock warrants like the one that led to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.
The measure will be named after Taylor, a 26-year-old unarmed black woman whose fatal shooting by three Louisville police officers has fueled national protests.
Paul confirmed on Thursday that he is drafting the proposal, which he is calling the "Justice for Breonna Taylor Act."
"After talking with Breonna Taylor's family, I've come to the conclusion that it's long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants," he said. "This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States."
Under the bill, federal law enforcement officers would be required to provide notice of their authority and purpose before they could execute a warrant.
The legislation also would require the same of any state or local law enforcement agency that receives funds from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Paul, a Kentucky Republican, began crafting the bill after talking with activists and members of Taylor's family earlier this week.
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During the meeting, Paul, a libertarian-leaning senator, spoke out against the use of no-knock search warrants and the militarization of police departments. He said during that conversation that police officers sometimes follow bad policies.
Tamika Palmer, Taylor's mother, told The Courier Journal on Thursday she is grateful the senator took her family's concerns seriously enough to file a measure in Congress.
"I think it's just the beginning, but I'm definitely satisfied," she said. "I definitely think it will help families after mine."
Taylor was shot eight times by plainclothes detectives March 13 while they were conducting a narcotics investigation.
Court records show police obtained a no-knock warrant before using a battering ram to enter Taylor's apartment around 1 a.m. Police say they announced their presence before entering, but neighbors and Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was in the apartment, dispute that.
Walker fired once, striking one officer. He later said he thought intruders were breaking in.
The officers returned fire, killing Taylor.
The warrant showed Taylor was not the main subject of the narcotics investigation, and no narcotics were found in her apartment.
"No one should lose their life in pursuit of a crime without a victim, and 'no-knock' warrants should be forbidden," Paul told The Courier Journal in May. "Let’s hope the investigation provides justice."
Paul's bill arrives as local leaders are looking to pass a similar prohibition on no-knock warrants in Louisville in the wake of Taylor's fatal shooting.
The Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously Thursday evening to ban the controversial police practice across the city.
Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat who has come under intense pressure to fire the three officers who shot Taylor, had already suspended the practice.
The mayor announced previously that no-knock warrants must now have the approval of the chief of police or a designee before being submitted to a judge.
The U.S. Supreme Court has said judges may allow police to search without knocking when they have a reasonable suspicion that under the “particular circumstances” of the case, the targets could destroy evidence.
But critics have argued no-knock warrants put officers and civilians in danger, especially given that many states have adopted so-called stand your ground laws.
"This is definitely the time to turn the pressure up," Louisville attorney Lonita Baker, who is representing the Taylor family, said in an interview Thursday.
"People are paying attention and legislators are paying attention locally, state level and nationally. We need to get all of the reform in while they're listening."
Paul is known to be one of the fiercest defenders of Fourth Amendment rights in Congress.
He expressed concern that local law enforcement is becoming too militarized during the 2013 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, over the shooting of a black teenager.
Florida-based attorney Benjamin Crump, who is also representing Taylor's family, is a nationally recognized lawyer who has been involved in some of the highest profile cases of police shootings of African Americans.
He said Taylor's mother and other advocates who have continued to protest and petition on behalf of the family should be given credit for persuading Paul.
"We're trying to get justice for Breonna but also to try to change the culture and behavior of police with these dangerous and unconstitutional no-knock warrants," Crump said.
Paul's move comes about a week after he faced deafening criticism for blocking a historic anti-lynching bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of black lawmakers. The senator argued he was looking to strengthen the bill.
"There's not many things Rand Paul and I agree on, but where we can find common ground to try to make this a more perfect union, I think we should," Crump said, "especially when it comes to policing right now, and the fact there appears to be two justice systems: one for black America and one for white America."
Reach Phillip M. Bailey at pbailey@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4475. Follow him on Twitter at @phillipmbailey. (1 image)
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Good for Paul!
This should have never been allowed to start with.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
Paul is known to be one of the fiercest defenders of Fourth Amendment rights in Congress.
He is also hands down the best representation anyone has in DC.
#3. To: Deckard (#0)
Paired with Amash's bill to end qualified immunity, and this could really amount to something.
Ron Paul - Lake Jackson Texas Values
#4. To: A K A Stone (#2)
Rand Paul ...
Cite one piece of his major legislation that has passed.
You can’t?
That’s because one never has.
He’s all talk and no action.
Why does that impress you?
#5. To: Gatlin (#4)
Why does that impress you?
Because he isn't an asshole like you. He is honest. He is almost always right.
If your cucks you vote for weren't there it would be a better Senate.
Why do you support assholes like you did for Mcasshole?
#6. To: Hondo68 (#3)
Paired with Amash ...
Justin Amash and Rand Paul do "pair" quite nicely together – at times.
It’s their “libertarian” thing – ya know …
#7. To: Gatlin, Hondo68 (#6)
Justin Amash and Rand Paul do "pair" quite nicely together – at times.It’s their “libertarian” thing – ya know
Yeah - you know all about "pairing up" don't you queerbait?
And of course as a faggot you wold know that neither Paul not Amash are gay.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#8. To: Deckard (#7) (Edited)
Yeah - you know all about "pairing up" … I only know I read that …
… the most libertarian members of Congress are, unsurprisingly, good friends and allies. Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.) ,,,] and Rep. Justin Amash (R–Mich.) are “paring up” constantly on often-lonely crusades … Rand Paul Visits Michigan on Campaign with Justin Amash ...
MAGNET Squad Goals: Thomas Massie, Justin Amash, Rand Paul …
Amash Sends Letter to Sen. Paul on Immigration.
Justin Amash endorses Rand Paul for president.
And so on …
… you would know that neither Paul not Amash are gay. I know no such thing.
You don’t know either – Do you, claptrap?
Furthermore, I have no interest in learning about their sexual orientations or even considering discussing those.
Why are you?
#9. To: Gatlin (#8)
Furthermore, I have no interest in learning about their sexual orientations or even considering discussing those.
Classic Gatlin! You brought it up with your not-so-veiled insinuation.
Why the fuck are you back here anyways troll? Last time I checked you were still licking your wounds after being shredded by the sane posters here.
Now that you come crawling back you immediately start behaving like the obnoxious little piss ant that everyone here knows you are.
Welcome Back Cynthia!
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#10. To: Deckard (#9)
Classic Gatlin! You brought it up with your not-so-veiled insinuation. Any insinuation was only in your warped mind as the beholder.
You do have a very strange way of looking at things.
Why the fuck are you back here anyways …? If done right, a new spark can institute a real change in you and turn evil into good.
I continue with any new spark I can find to do that.
Last time I checked you were still licking your wounds after being shredded by the sane posters here. All you saw was some name-calling. The name-calling technique invariably links a person and any idea, to a negative symbol. Any ignoramus who resorts to this knows nothing about the skill of communicating. And only uses this technique in hopes that the audience will reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative symbol, instead of looking at the available evidence.
Welcome Back Cynthia! Aphasia is a disorder caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control language.
It can make it hard for you to read, write, and "say what you mean to say."
You can overcome the affliction and learn how to:
Say What You Mean; Mean What You Say.
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