Dial and DieIt’s often falsely believed that dialing 911 will instantly bring emergency services to assist. In the case of police response to these calls, you will find that the crime is over and done with before the unit shows up to assist.

Underlying all gun control ideology is this one belief; Private citizens don’t need firearms because the police will protect them from crime. I’m certain that an examination of the following table will lead you to an entirely different conclusion.

CITY AVERAGE
RESPONSE TIME

Nashville, TN 8:54

Oklahoma City, OK 9:12

Kansas City, KS 9:52

Tucson, AZ 10:11

Denver, CO 11:00

El Paso, TX 11:11

Atlanta, GA 11:12

 
Reference: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Now think about what you can accomplish in eight to eleven minutes. Mow the lawn? Call your Mom? Take a shower? Rob a convenience store? Well, maybe not you, but you get the idea. Stare at the clock for the next eight minutes. It’s a very long time. Looking at the data above for response times in major cities leads me to conclude that being in a remote area would only exacerbate the already dismal response to 911 calls.

The book cover pictured above is from a very good read - “Dial 911 and Die” - the author, Richard Stevens gives these two reasons why dialing 911 is ineffective in protecting citizens from crime:

First, the police cannot and do not protect everyone from crime. Second, the government and the police in most localities owe no legal duty to protect individuals from criminal attack. When it comes to deterring crime and defending against criminals, individuals are ultimately responsible for themselves and their loved ones. Depending solely on police emergency response means relying on the telephone as the only defensive tool. Too often, citizens in trouble dial 911 . . . and die.

I posted about Mr. Stevens’ book back in March of 2008.

UPDATE: Welcome to 2A Roundup readers.