WASHINGTON(Washington Insider Magazine) – On Tuesday, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., presented legislation restricting the use of no-knock warrants in narcotic investigations.
The law, which is named after Amir Locke, would also prohibit the use of military-grade weaponry, explosive weapons, and chemical weapons during the execution of warrants.
According to ABC NEWS, Locke, a Black Minnesota native, was 22 years old when he was gunned down by Minneapolis SWAT agent Mark Hanneman conducting a no-knock search warrant execution early in the morning on Feb. 2.
The killing of Locke, who was not identified on the warrant, was declared a murder by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
Hanneman has been placed on paid leave as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension probes the shooting.
After Locke’s killing, calls to abolish no-knock warrants emerged, sparking demonstrations reminiscent of those that erupted after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in 2020. Though Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a ban on no-knock warrant requests and executions, outraged citizens and politicians have urged for a more lasting solution.
When a group of Black mothers and women convened at Minneapolis City Hall to seek justice for Locke, Neka Gray, Locke’s aunt, urged that no-knock warrants be abolished.
In a news conference following Locke’s murder, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated that President Joe Biden favors the repeal of no-knock warrants.
Psaki also discussed a Justice department regulation published in September by US Attorney General Merrick Garland that governs the use of no-knock search warrants, carotid restraints, and chokeholds by federal agents.
According to the guideline, federal officials must “knock and announce” their name, purpose, and authority, as well as demand entrance before entering a private residence to execute a warrant. In exceptional instances, exceptions may be made.
At the State of the Union, Biden highlighted the Justice Department’s stance briefly before pushing for police funding and receiving applause.
In reaction to the proposed law, the Locke family’s team of lawyers published a statement on Tuesday:
While the “ultimate goal” is to ban all no-knock warrants, “it is a significant step forward,” according to the statement.
