Democrats side with GOP on no-knock warrant legislation

ATLANTA - Legislation partly inspired by a mishandled drug raid in Cornelia in May is gathering bi-partisan support among Georgia lawmakers, according to the Georgia News Network. <br /> <br /> The first bill is a mandate for every law enforcement officer in Georgia to be equipped with a body camera; the second is a measure that provides for new limits on so-called no-knock warrants.<br /> <br /> GOP Rep. Kevin Tanner of Dawsonville authored the bill calling for a written policy on the use of no-knock warrants and introduced the measure last week. He said in an interview with AccessNorthGa.com that he began work on the no-knock legislation before the drug raid in Habersham County was conducted. <i>(See story linked below.)</i><br /> <br /> Democratic State Senator Vincent Fort of Atlanta said Tuesday that something has to be done to put limits on such warrants, and he said the raid that injured 2-year-old Bou Bou Phonesavanh is a prime example.<br /> <br /> "We know that there's evidence that someone lied - one officer lied - to the magistrate in offering information for the no-knock warrant," said Fort.<br /> <br /> He did not name the officer he claims lied to the judge.<br /> <br /> Fort and other Democrats also support a bill to equip every officer in the state with body cameras, although he said financing could be an issue.<br /> <br /> "That's a very important question - 'who's going to pay for it,' " said Fort. "But one of the other questions is 'can we afford not to do this?'"