As incidences of the use of force against citizens rise, you are eight times more likely to be killed by a police officer than being killed by a terrorist.

Militarization of the police is something that is taking place all over the United States, and with continued federal and local cooperation, there is no end in sight to this trend. Even our local police department has an armored personnel carrier that is paraded around town, desensitizing the general public as well as the local youth to the presence of such unnecessary tools for oppression.

Even though some of us see the constant abuse of power and continued normalization of police brutality, there are beacons of hope that are shining through the forest of despair. A grand jury has decided not to charge Henry McGee for capital murder of a Police Officer in Burleson County.

A no-knock search warrant was issued and served on McGee’s home near Snook, Texas, last December. When the sheriffs broke down the door and charged in, McGee thought that his home was being broken into, and, in fear for his life and that of his pregnant girlfriend, McGee opened fire on the intruding assailants, killing Burleson County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Sowders.

The grand jury decided that there was not enough evidence to charge McGee with capital murder of a police officer and that McGee was within his rights to protect his home and the lives of those within his home from the unknown invasion.

“Well, we feel that the grand jury acted fairly and reasonably and had all of the information that it needed to make the decision that it did. That is, that this was a justified shooting, but we need to say that this is a tragedy,” Dick DeGuerin, McGee’s defense attorney said.

Even though McGee was able to escape the capital murder charge, he is still being charged with possession of marijuana while carrying a deadly weapon. During the raid, the SWAT team did not find more than five pounds of growing marijuana plants within McGee’s home.

Any loss of, or harm to, life is negative and unneeded in our so-called civilized society, whether it is an innocent bystander who is beaten for video recording police in the name of accountability or the loss of life from someone who is serving on behalf of the State.

The decision by the grand jury will help to set the precedent that is now needed to protect ourselves from those who are charged with protecting us from ourselves, opening the door for the idea that police and public servants have no higher privilege than anyone else.

The ability for someone to protect him or herself at home has never been stronger, and this decision may help to change the processes police departments use in serving no-knock search warrants.

ldanil@mavs.coloradomesa.edu