I don't know how the 'land of the free' got like that... but whilst I'm not comfortable with the cost of electricity here in England, and do envy some of the commercial rates available in the USA...
...there's no way on Earth I'd swap my high energy costs for a society where using a significantly larger amount of electricity than your immediate neighbours could result in armed thugs breaking into your home, trashing your front door and killing you if you make the slightest 'incorrect' protest. FFS - and if that anecdote about the 'clumsy cop' was true, then thats truly shocking.
Don't want to get this political, but FFS, that's totalitarian, and beyond all credible 'appropriate reaction'. Regardless of my point of view re: legality of recreational psychoactives, breaking into someone's home with an armed troop needs *serious* justification and judicial oversight. This story is just plain Orwellian.
What's the situation in Texas? IIRC, you're allowed to defend your home and family in Texas, and you're allowed to own decent firearms. If this is the case, and I was a Texan who had his front door kicked off its hinges and a bunch of guys breaking in, I'd be shooting before asking to see their police ID. Would that make me a 'cop killer' and up for the death penalty? Or do cops in Texas behave with more common sense?
FFS. Growing pot plants. What a load of bullshit. If it weren't for crap like this then there wouldn't be so many people poisoning themselves with *hypothetically* similarly-acting 'research chemicals' made at below industrial-grade purity by cheapest-bidder chemical engineering shops in China. So many things are so fucked up the most basic level, it's untrue...
(rant off - sorry)
Hehe, loved that.
Being from Texas I can say that the situation regarding domicile search warrants is the same as in most places in the US.
Typically, police announce themselves prior to entering, but in drug raids they do not announce and break in with a bang. Only do they announce themselves immediately after crossing the threshold.
If you started shooting and killed some cops as they entered, and you miraculously did not die in the process, you would be charged with murder.
But you are correct in that you can kill someone in your domicile IF they 1) are trespassing and 2) are carrying a weapon. IIRC the govt's position derives from the Castle Doctrine. Technically the property owner should have to prove that he/she was in imminent danger of bodily harm. If the trespasser is carrying a weapon the courts typically decide in the property owner's favor. If it's a cop with a warrant you die or go to jail for a long time.
In other trespass circumstances across the US the law on killing trespassers can vary. If you are unlucky and unable to show imminent danger of bodily harm you would most likely be charged with 3rd degree murder. If the trespasser survives then assault w/ deadly weapon and attempted murder. Though jurys have decided in property owner's favor in a number of cases.
Wisconsin is considering a law that would exempt property owner from liability for any injury caused to a trespasser. This potentially means that harm or death through passive means (trap) or active means would not result in a charge.
http://www.brookfieldnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/133998203.html