I know, and it sucks!
Ok, so Breonna’s partner shouldn’t have fired at the door. But the cops were carrying out a no-knock warrant, which is illegal in some places and should be in all. It’s common sense that a resident could easily think the forced entry is a burglar, and defend their space as is their right. Moreover, the warrant was based on a lie.
So the grand jury was instructed not to consider a charge of murder because such a charge would have to be supported by intent, and it would not hold. But other more serious charges could be applied and they weren’t. And the body cam video has only just now been released.
It’s the thin blue line again. When actual burglars kill during a robbery, there are serious charges. And cops are trained to think of citizens as enemy combatants* so it seems to me that there is always intent to kill.
I am especially concerned about the complex unwritten code of behavior around firearms. Compliance with this code allows people to walk around armed to the teeth in public, especially if they’re white. A violation of this code could get someone killed, especially if they’re Black. Philandro Castile, a registered concealed carrier, presumably knew this code but he was killed anyway. And the NRA defended his murder — based on a few technicalities that amount to violation of the code!*
So what can we do about this code? This question is not rhetorical, but practical. I have a few ideas but it’s not my place to say them because I’m white.
*(Reader discretion advised on the following articles. Do not read if you already know of this and would be traumatized by content. These links are posted to inform those readers who are not aware of these things.)
