Are 911 callcenters puting attack victims in danger?

C

ChrisMkIV

New member
This is my thought, someone calls 911 "help there is someone in my house" and then 911 says "ok, we will send some one over" Then the victim will say "tell me when the police arrive at the door, because I have a gun"

This is the part that makes me hot, the next thing 911 will say "put the gun away, you will be allright" or "put the gun down, the police are on the way"

With the police "on the way" so to speak, does this advice put the caller at risk? does 911 give this advice to callers without knowing if the intruder is in the house, or what the intruder's intentions are?

If there is an intruder in the house, is the last thing you want to do is "put the gun down"

In 1989, The U.S. Department of Justice discovered that 168,881 crimes of violence were not responded to by 911 calls within 1 HOUR, that being the case, the last thing I want to happen, is to put my gun down.

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"The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, becuse the whole body of the people are armed"
Noah Webster

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I general, I tend to question the wizdom of taking the time to get ont he phone in time of danger, esp. if you are alone...if I were in such a situation, I'd prefer to keep my attention on the front sight and the hallway beyond it.
 
Actual occurance, small Texas town just south of Fort Worth, summer 1998. 2 gentlemen shooting at my domocile from the back yard
(25,000 acre field). Called 911, shots fired, two armed men. Qoute "We're on the way!".` Response time to the shots fired call.........................42 minutes.
Had it contolled far before LE arrival.
LE took actors into custody by following the blood trails. Of course I'll put my gun down...................... :)
 
Wife grabs the cell phone & the Taurus 85, I grab the flashlight & the S&W 4006 and we both go check on the little munchkin. When the police show up, I tell them (via the "911" operator) which window to go to and I throw them a key to the front door. My family and I remain in the locked room until the police have cleared the house. The "911" operator them tells me when they are standing outside my door and we secure our weapons. Anyone attempts to come in before that, will be fired upon -- I don't know if it's a LEO or if the BG got the upper hand and attempting to get in.
Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
fud-nra.gif
 
Well, I am a 9-1-1 operator (although I prefer the term "dispatcher", the 9-1-1 system is just a phone system) and here is my take:

Dispatchers are tought to tell people to disarm themselves as a matter of course. Do all dispatchers tell callers to disarm themselves? No. I never have, and never would. If an officer told me to tell a caller to secure their weapon? I would have to be damn sure that the officers were in a position to immediately secure the safety of the caller before I would tell the caller to secure their weapon.

I've had callers tell me they have armed themselves, and then ask me what they should do. I generally tell them they should do whatever they think appropriate to defend themselves.

I was once reading a text that was written for use in teaching dispatchers how to be dispatchers. It advised to tell callers to secure their weapons immediately. I wrote to the author and suggested that she change her book, because it's teachings were putting callers in danger. To my surprise, she did change the book in future editions, and sent my a free copy.

Unfourtunately, most communications centers are run with the liability of the agency as the primary concern.

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"Anyone feel like saluting the flag which the strutting ATF and FBI gleefully raised over the smoldering crematorium of Waco, back in April of ‘93?" -Vin Suprynowicz
 
Actually I think it is a VERY good thing to be on the phone, and keep an open phone line. That way if you actually have to shoot, the 911 system has the entire thing on tape, you telling the person...

"Do NOT open the door, I have a gun!"

"Stay out of the room, I've got a gun!"

"Stop or I will shoot!"

"Stop or I will shoot!"

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

"Please send an ambulance, I've shot an intruder in my home."

Something like that can go a long way toward making the DA think twice about pressing charges.

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Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
 
I don't care if police have a 2 minute response time, guaranteed. A lot can happen in just 10 seconds. I'll secure my weapon only when the perp is under control or gone. I'll also let the 911 dispatcher know that, too.

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Shoot straight & make big holes, regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center
 
I had to call 911 about a prowler. I told them I was armed and would only put the gun down when I saw a Sheriff's car in my driveway and badges at the door. They didn't seem to have a problem with that. The deputies never even asked about the gun.

Of course, this is rural Florida, where 3/4 of the households have some sort of weapon. The 80-year-old guy across the street once used a .30 Marlin carbine to chase off a guy trying to break into his car at 3AM.

[This message has been edited by David Scott (edited June 15, 2000).]
 
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