The real problem with 911

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The real problem with 911

by Maximus
Maximus101@keepandbeararms.com


As anyone who has ever tried it knows, dialing 911 is at best an iffy proposition.

IF you can get through…

IF the operator on the other end isn't asleep…

IF they were properly trained and actually give a damn…

IF there is a unit available to respond…

IF that unit is inclined to respond... (Remember they are not legally obligated to protect you, as proven in the Supreme Court.)

And finally IF the Police aren't afraid to show their faces in the neighborhood you happen to live in...

THEN you can expect to wait at least 15-20 minutes in most areas from the time you call to the time the police actually arrive to save you.

In 15 to 20 minutes you can be raped, murdered, burglarized, etc.

I don't think I'll be shocking anyone by saying that while I'm grateful for 911, I'm not going to trust my life and the life of my family to it.

But the real problem with 911 isn't that it's ineffective.

The real problem with 911 is the same problem with welfare, food stamps and a million other "services" the government provides. It breeds DEPENDENCY, and the more DEPENDENT one is on the government, the more power the government has over one.

I have friends from Northern Ireland, and the tales they tell of police "protection" are chilling. One man told me that in Northern Ireland, it is legal to buy a shotgun for the protection of your home, but you have to go through a police licensing system. I asked him why more Catholic families don't take this seemingly self-evident step to protect their homes against attacks by Protestant terrorists. His answer floored me.

He told me that if a Catholic man buys a shotgun for home defense, it is common practice for the Protestant controlled police to call the Protestant terrorist groups and tell them which homes have a gun in it so they can go to that home and steal it. According to my friend's experience, that is why Catholics don't buy guns for home defense in Northern Ireland.

The cops are some of the citizens' best friends, especially local Law Enforcement. However, one must not forget that the services they provide can easily be withdrawn or even turned against the citizenry if it suits the political leadership. The responsibility for home defense -- and security in general -- resides with the private citizen, and the less necessary the police are the less power the Government has over the individual citizen.
 
The 9-1-1 dispatch service works extremely well where I live.

Every time I have called 9-1-1 for a deputy he has arrived within eight minutes of my call - usually quicker.

However, I do realize that mayhem, maiming, and murder can occur much quicker than eight minutes - quicker even than I can place a phone call. Therefore I take some responsibility for safeguarding my family, my property, and myself.
 
(Posted by Long Path on the duplicate thread at 1:49PM)

IF the lines aren't tied up (the other night one of our County dispatchers was tied up for 3-4 minutes by a couple of drunks who just wanted to talk...),
IF the officer isn't in a dead spot where his radio won't receive (we've got tons of 'em in my county).

IF the CAD mapping system accurately depicts your house on your block. (call the non-emergency number during an off-peak hour and check their directions to your address; it's not uncommon that it be wrong, especially if your area has just changed jurisdiction (annexation, change in departmental coverage, etc).

IF the officer in your area isn't already tied up in the middle of something mundane but effectively hands-tying (like, say, an animal complaint), which takes him out for awhile.

IF the officer who responds doesn't get skeered and wait for a cover unit before entering. (It's happened more than once. Think Columbine.)

IF, IF, IF... and I'M one of the guys who'll respond to help! I firmly believe in all the officers that I work with on a day-to-day basis are good, stalwart officers who would charge in should the hue and cry go out. Likewise, I think that we have an excellent dispatch team at my county dispatch. I would (and do, I guess) trust them with my life. But we're talking about a mere 3-5 people on a communications shift, and bad things happen.

Take responsibility for yourself. Call 911, and be ready to do what you have to, for you.
 
Ah, 911. You should listen to dispatcher stories about 911.

More than half of the 911 calls into my old SO were to inquire about weather conditions. Another large percentage were eaten up by little children punching the only numbers they knew into the phone, little old ladies who just wanted someone to talk to, and prank calls.

One of the favorite prank calls involved driving from pay-phone to pay-phone just to daill 911. I'm here to tell you, that sort of codswallop can tie up a dispatcher and officer something fierce.

When 20 phones are ringing at the 911 desk, and only one of them is legit, response time tends to be a wee bit slow.

LawDog
 
http://www.stileproject.com/911.rm


Ladies and gentlemen this is the REAL reason why you don't want to HAVE to call 911

WARNING!!!: This WILL screw your whole day up and turn your sound down if your at work.


------------------
"Take your weapon with reluctance. Draw it with dread. Grieve for those who fall to your bullets. But make every shot count."-Robert Shea
 
Hey, LawDog, same in Los Angeles!!

Operator: "Nine One One. What's your emergency, please?"

Citizen: "How do I get to Universal Studios for the tour so I can see some movie stars?"

Operator: "I'm sorry, sir, but that's not an emergency. Please consult a map."

Citizen: "Uhh, where can I get a map?"

Operator: "At any news stand or book store."

Citizen: "Where's a news stand?"

Operator: "Sir, this is an emergency line. I'm hanging up."

Citizen: (outraged) "G-d d-mn you, I'm going to sue you and the county for not helping me!! What's your fu-kin' name?!"

Operator: click.

Nothing ever changes, does it?? J.B.
 
I don't get it. I have read the gripes on 911 for the last couple of years and I simply don't get it. Who ever said calling 911 would make everything okay? Who ever said calling 911 would make the boogie man go away, stop your house from burning down, heal a severed artery, or whatever?

911 is not a panacea. At no time has calling anyone on the phone been a panacea, nor calling by voice (shouting), radio, or on the computer, although all of these methods have been used to save people. If you have to call someone on the phone that is not within a few feet of you, face it, they may not be coming in time to make a difference!!! It doesn't matter who you call if they aren't already at the scene of the emergency!

911 is an iffy proposition, but you may not have any other options. If you feel like you can't trust 911, then for God's sake, don't call it! It is that simple.

I personally have emergency equipment in my car and home for a variety of circumstances. I know how to use all of it. Will I call 911? You bet. I may be able to take care of the situation until help arrives. If help doesn't arrive in time, then so be it. I will have done my part and that is all that I can count on, ever. If they do make it on time, it is icing on the cake.

There is no reason to slam 911. Most of those that complain about it have not been a 911 operator.

If you can't count on 911, then take the time to work with your neighbors on a community involved help group. How many people in your neighborhood are willing to learn how to use fire hoses and get the training to hook them up and put out a fire? How many people can you get to learn first aid, CPR? How many people can you get to provide a vehicle (truck, suburban, van) for emergency transport? How many people can you get to run into you house when gun shots are going off and save your family?

My point is that if you take the time to learn how to take care of emergency situations and get others involved, you don't have to depend on 911. Unfortunately, more people are more comfortable with complaining about something than trying to make their situation better. Most of your neighbors are going to think you are crazy if you try to get them involved with helping other people.

911 is one of the few organizations willing to help you, as best they can given the circumstances at the time, and yet we complain.

When TSHTF, don't call 911 and handle the situation yourself. If you win, pat yourself on the back. If you lose, remember it was your fault.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gopher .45:
I don't get it. I have read the gripes on 911 for the last couple of years and I simply don't get it. Who ever said calling 911 would make everything okay? Who ever said calling 911 would make the boogie man go away, stop your house from burning down, heal a severed artery, or whatever?
[/quote]

The liberal anti-gun/constitution crowd who wants to use 911 as the reason that we do not need guns for self protection.

I've never worked as a dispatcher either. But I did devote a career to answering those calls for service and know how inadiquate 911 and the response can be.
I, as well as any officer here, can tell you stories about 911 operators and dispatchers. Some amusing...some frightening. We can also tell stories of how long response time can be. Some are good...great in fact. While others can be an enternity...or seem like it.
I don't think anyone has anything against 911 or the people that work the phones. But the fact remains 911 is not the answer to saving ones self in a violant situtation. Much as those people try they are often on time only to clean up the mess and take the report.
The anti crowd are the ones that naively think that they are safe with 911 and try to convince everyone else they are as well.

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Gunslinger

I was promised a Shortycicle and I want a Shortycicle!

[This message has been edited by Gunslinger (edited October 27, 2000).]
 
Last year, at the school where I work, they had a demonstration of the emergency services in town. It was right before prom, so to show what would happen in a car wreck, the police set up an accident, described to the student body what would happen, and then set the Emergency Management System in motion by dialing 911. Everyone responded as quickly as possible and were quite effecient. If I ever have to dial 911, I'm glad these people are on my side.

However, It took at least three minutes before the first emergency vehicle was on the scene. 180 seconds elapsed before any help arrived. 180 seconds is a long time when lives are at stake.

When the BG is pounding on my door, I will call 911 and hope professionals arrive in time to handle the situation. 911 is pretty darn good, but it isn't a cure all, and it isn't perfect (nothing is). If they don't arrive in time, I will take responsibility to handle the situation. Like Dennis stated "I take some responsibility for safeguarding my family, my property, and myself."
 
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