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Death at Your Door: Knock-and-Talk Police Tactics Rip a Hole in the Constitution

This is what passes for “knock-and-talk” policing in the American police state. “Knock-and-shoot” policing might be more accurate, however. Whatever you call it, this aggressive, excessive police tactic has become a thinly veiled, warrantless exercise by which citizens are coerced and intimidated into “talking” with heavily armed police who “knock” on their doors in the middle of the night. Winston Churchill once declared that “democracy means that if the doorbell rings in the early hours, it is likely to be the milkman.” Clearly, we don’t live in a democracy. No, in the American police state, when you find yourself woken in the early hours by someone pounding on your door, smashing through your door, terrorizing your family, killing your pets, and shooting you if you dare to resist in any way, you don’t need to worry that it might be burglars out to rob and kill you: it’s just the police.

"Battlefield America with John W. Whitehead," part of a new weekly series produced in partnership with The Rutherford Institute and Newsbud, is hosted by constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead.


On Target with John Whitehead ® is a video and audio blog that provides an insightful, relevant and provocative commentary on popular culture and constitutional issues. Audio versions of On Target with John Whitehead ™ are part of The Rutherford Institute's educational outreach efforts and are available for use by radio stations and media outlets and for personal listening by individuals.

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