Lethal force against law enforcement OK’d in Indiana

By William R. Toler

A new law in Indiana has liberty activists cheering and law enforcement cringing.

A recent addition to the state’s Castle Doctrine bill gives residents the greenlight to use lethal force to protect their homes and vehicles from someone barging in, even if that person is a “public servant,” according to Bloomberg News.

The addition stems from a state Supreme Court decision last year that ruled residents had “no right to reasonably resist unlawful entry by police officers.” Yes, you read that right. The court ruled that you have no right to resist UNLAWFUL entry by police officers.

Now, with the state’s new law, you can…at least if you’re in Indiana.

Fourth Amendment flushed in court decisions

By William R. Toler

“I’d like to get some sleep before I travel. But if you’ve got a warrant, I guess you’re gonna come in.”

The late Jerry Garcia would be disappointed–as are many civil libertarians–that his line from “Truckin'” is no longer relevant thanks to several recent court rulings.

Last week, the Indiana Supreme Court rendered two decisions that invalidate the protections of the Fourth Amendment. First, the court ruled that police did not have to knock before entering a home to serve a warrant, according to nwitimes.com. Then a few days later, the court decided 3-2 that individuals have “no right” to resist police entering your home without a warrant.

The ruling stems from a case in which a police had been called to investigate a couple arguing outside their home. As the couple went back in, the husband told police there was no need for them. When the officers tried to enter anyway, the husband pushed one of them against the wall. The other officer then subdued him with a stun gun and arrested him.

In a prime example of Orwellian Doublespeak, Justice Steven David wrote in the opinion, “We believe … a right to resist an unlawful police entry into a home is against public policy and is incompatible with modern Fourth Amendment jurisprudence…We also find that allowing resistance unnecessarily escalates the level of violence and therefore the risk of injuries to all parties involved without preventing the arrest.”

Let’s analyze that for a moment, shall we?

Government takes aim at ammo

By William R. Toler

The popular pro-gun phrase “You can have my gun…bullets first” may be the first step to severely dismantling the Second Amendment.

The Ammunition Accountabiltity Act is being introduced in 18 states, including North Carolina neighbors South Carolina and Tennessee.

On the surface, especially to those not passionate about the Second Amendment, the Ammuntion Accountabilty Act sounds like a good idea in helping law enforcement officials track down criminals. But it imposes even more restrictions and data mining than we’re already dealing with.