Originally posted on Quora September 17, 2022
When 2A supporters say their guns rights protect them from tyrannical government it is not some hypothetical civil war scenario they should reference but the actual lived experience of people surviving the war on drugs and war on terrorism waged against them on a daily basis. When police no knock raid your home at night on mere hearsay from an unnamed informant (often made up on a whim) they are usually indistinguishable from burglars and marauders who come to take your property and do you harm. Some homeowners have shot back in self-defense not knowing who was breaking in or why and have been acquitted by prudent courts who recognized the information asymmetry pertinent in such cases and the necessity of making a snap judgment when you “fear for your life.”
Sources: Some justice in Texas: The Raid on Henry Magee, West Texas Man Acquitted in Fatal Shooting of Police Officer, Texas Man Found Not Guilty for Shooting Three Cops During No Knock Raid, Florida man acquitted of shooting at deputies in raid that led to death of girlfriend, Man who shot at cops in unrest over Floyd death is acquitted
On December 19, 2013, Henry Magee had his home raided on the specious pretext that he had 12-14 cannabis plants over 6 feet tall and a stolen firearm, none of which were ever found on his property. Magee killed deputy Adam Sowder after Sheriff’s deputies attempted to force their way into Magee’s home during a botched no knock raid. Magee was eventually acquitted of capital murder charges after the facts of the case showed he could not distinguish the deputies from plain clothes burglars.
On February 19, 2015, Ray Rosas shot three cops during a botched no knock raid on his Corpus Christi home. The cops frightened Ray by throwing a flash bang grenade through his window. Rosas had been weary of gang activity in his neighborhood and fearing for his life (a phrase jackboot thugs like to use absolve themselves of murder) shot back in self-defense. He was initially charged with three counts of attempted murder before being acquitted in court when the facts of the case were presented.
Davis Wilson of Midland, Texas was similarly acquitted in 2019 of a murder after fatally shooting officer Nathan Heidelberg after the later broke into his home while checking a security alarm.
Andrew Coffee IV was acquitted of felony murder and attempted murder charges in Vero Beach, FL in 2021 after he fired at a SWAT team that smashed through his bedroom window at 5 AM. His girlfriend was killed in the crossfire (for which he was initially charged) and one officer was injured. Once again, the defendant testified that he didn’t hear the officer supposedly announce themselves before breaking into his bedroom and based on this information asymmetry was acquitted of all charges except possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
During the BLM riots of 2020, Jaleel Stallings fired three shots at Minneapolis police after the plainclothes officers fired rubber bullets at him from an unmarked white van. While Stallings was aware of his surroundings he was still unable to distinguish the cops from the civilians in the street until they announced their presence at which point he surrendered. Based on the facts of the case, Stallings was also acquitted of all attempted murder and assault charges.
This is not exhaustive as there are several more cases like these not listed here.