Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul is set to reintroduce the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act in the Senate, with Congressman Morgan McGarvey introducing the House version of the bill. The legislation aims to prohibit no-knock warrants, a practice that allows law enforcement officials to forcibly enter a home without prior announcement.

Dr. Paul expressed his stance on the bill, stating, “It’s long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants. This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States, and I’m pleased to work with Rep. McGarvey and Sen. Booker on this important legislation.”

Rep. McGarvey, reflecting on the tragic death of Breonna Taylor, emphasized the importance of the bill, saying, “Louisvillians remember Breonna Taylor and are still grieving the tragedy of her inexcusable killing by police. After Breonna’s death, we passed a ban on no-knock warrants at the state and local level — if we can do this in Kentucky, we can do this nationally.”

Senator Cory Booker, an original cosponsor of the Senate version of the legislation, highlighted the dangers of no-knock entries, stating, “No one should ever experience the horror of being startled from their sleep by police executing a no-knock warrant.” He added, “I am proud to work with Senator Paul to introduce and pass the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, a crucial, long-overdue public safety bill to ensure that such tragedies never occur again in our nation.”

The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, named in memory of the late Breonna Taylor, would mandate that federal law enforcement officers provide notice of their authority and purpose before executing a warrant. The bill would also extend this requirement to any state or local law enforcement agency receiving funds from the Department of Justice.

Dr. Paul had previously introduced the legislation in 2020, working closely with the family of Breonna Taylor and advocates for criminal justice reform. The bill builds upon Kentucky's efforts to address the issue, with the State Legislature passing restrictions on the use of no-knock warrants in 2021.

The collaborative efforts of Dr. Paul, Rep. McGarvey, and other lawmakers reflect a commitment to enacting meaningful change in the realm of policing and public safety. The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act represents a step towards ensuring that similar tragedies are prevented in the future.