Is it mandatory to have a cell phone?

[The Rattler]

Nothing has been given to me. And I have never asked got anything in return. My point was if they ask me to do something that I am not required to do (call 911), then if they don't provide the means, I can not be responsible to do it. Have had a cell phone since it was the size of a lunch box. But that was my choice. As is protecting myself and my family.

[tabrisnet]

I guess the better answer than 911 is to call your local PD, assuming you know their number. Albeit I've found that they tend to be rather unhelpful if you're 1 mile out of their jurisdiction.

Actually, that's a valid question... Can we just call our County Sheriff for all issues, and trust they'll either respond or fwd to the local PD? Or am I really stuck knowing the numbers for all the cities I pass through in California?

Back in MI, I could call the Ottawa County PD and they'd happily relay to Kent County, Allegan County, or Holland City. Well, maybe not _happy_ but they'd do it on more than one occasion.

[fiddletown]

...My point was if they ask me to do something that I am not required to do (call 911),...

Nobody is asking you to do anything. What you do and how you manage your affairs is up to you. Of course, your choices have consequences, so if you choose to deal with things in a manner that's unlawful, you can't complain if some of the consequences turn out to be unsatisfactory to you. But that's what freedom is all about. Freedom includes the freedom to fail -- the freedom to mess up your life.

... if they don't provide the means, I can not be responsible to do it. ...

You certainly can be and are.

[tabrisnet]

Nobody is asking you to do anything. What you do and how you manage your affairs is up to you. Of course, your choices have consequences, so if you choose to deal with things in a manner that's unlawful, you can't complain if some of the consequences turn out to be unsatisfactory to you. But that's what freedom is all about. Freedom includes the freedom to fail -- the freedom to mess up your life.

I love it when people feel compelled to present false choices. It's even true that you can choose to stop breathing rather than comply with anyone else's rules.

The truth of self-defense is that you _can_ choose to not call 911 afterward... but then you might not present your case until after the cops have come to their own conclusions (or the original offending party has presented their case of why THEY are the victim).

And claiming that NOT calling is unlawful... that's where the problem really starts. Good Samaritan laws are good for defending against lawsuits but suck if you are REQUIRED to report a crime in progress. That way leads to... well, I wish to not invoke Godwin's law (albeit this would be more Sovietski than Nationalsozialismus).

[fiddletown]

...And claiming that NOT calling is unlawful...

I never said that not calling 911 was unlawful. But what would be unlawful, and was mentioned by the OP, would be carrying a loaded gun without the proper permit.

The OP is claiming that some authority is asking him to call 911 and somehow has an obligation to provide him with the means. Both notions are preposterous.

[tabrisnet]

He seems to be stuck himself on a false dilemma, at least for the first notion.

As to the second... it leads from the first and thus is just as flawed.

Worse, taken to its logical conclusion it _may_ end up (legislatively) encumbering those of us who legally UOC, LOC, or CCW.

[obeygiant]

The FCC requires that all cell phones whether they are currently active or deactivated be able to place 911 calls. If you have an old cell phone and it can hold a charge you then have the ability to call 911 regardless of whether or not the phone is on an active plan.

9-1-1
Inactive telephones

In the U.S., FCC rules require every telephone that can access the network to be able to dial 9-1-1, regardless of any reason that normal service may have been disconnected (including non-payment) (This only applies to states with a Do Not Disconnect policy in place. Those states must provide a "soft" dial tone service, details can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Ca...D/pntris99.pdf) On wired (land line) phones, this usually is accomplished by a "soft" dial tone, which sounds normal but will allow only emergency calls. Often, an unused and unpublished phone number will be issued to the line so that it will work properly. With regard to mobile phones, the rules require carriers to connect 9-1-1 calls from any mobile phone, regardless of whether that phone is currently active.[29] The same rules for inactive telephones apply in Canada.[30]

When a cellular phone is deactivated, the phone number is often recycled to a new user, or to a new phone for the same user. The deactivated cell phone will still complete a 911 call (if it has battery power) but the 911 operator will see a specialized number indicating the cell phone has been deactivated. It is usually represented with an area code of (911)-xxx-xxxx. If the call is disconnected, the 911 operator will not be able to connect to the original caller. Also because the cell phone is no longer activated, the 911 operator is often unable to get Phase II information.[31]

[Gryff]

If Anti gunners (and certain politicians/law enforcement) claim that calling 911 is an appropriate means of self defense... then shouldn't the government provide every citizen with a cell phone when away from home? And if they don't provide one, can it not then be argued that carrying a weapon was then justified as you had no means to call for help?

Any cell phone can call 911, whether you have the phone on an active cell phone plan or not.

[Window_Seat]

When it comes to Govt defending bad laws, they might not even have a leg to stand on if they are using cell phone availability as a defense because no law can prevent a call not going through because you are in cell hell. As an example, when I go across Nevada, I just turn my cell phone off & put it on the charger because it says "NO SERVICE" across 90% of I-80. I-5 gets cut outs, so I'm lucky if I can get 15 seconds of continuous conversation, and it better be quick. Cell 911 service has been a joke since the beginning, and it should be part of the offensive when dealing with bad gun laws, especially when arguing for better CCW regs everywhere.

Erik.

[Paul S]

This thread is quickly beginning to have the tone of the old false theological question of how many angels can stand on the head of a pin.

Calling 911 or not calling 911..it is your choice. Carrying concealed w/o a permit also your choice...but be ready for consequences on both issues.

But since it is all hypothetical it is meaningless. Is it not?

[N6ATF]

The fundamental problem is that the government doesn't expect you to talk...

The FCC requires that all cell phones whether they are currently active or deactivated be able to place 911 calls. If you have an old cell phone and it can hold a charge you then have the ability to call 911 regardless of whether or not the phone is on an active plan.

The key words being "...that can access the network" - you're SOL if you have an original StarTac (there is no longer an AMPS network in the U.S.) or a phone locked to a carrier that no longer operates the phone's standard.

[KracknCorn]

I've called 911 a couple of times and both times I was put on hold for more than 5 minutes. One of those times was because someone was being attacked... by the time the cops showed up, the wanna be thugs were already long gone.

[GOEX FFF]

Is it mandatory to have a cell phone? If Anti gunners (and certain politicians/law enforcement) claim that calling 911 is an appropriate means of self defense... then shouldn't the government provide every citizen with a cell phone when away from home? And if they don't provide one, can it not then be argued that carrying a weapon was then justified as you had no means to call for help?

Without dipping into the dialing 911 chat....
NO, the Fed Gov. cannot MAKE YOU buy something, just as much as they cannot MAKE someone buy health insurance.

[Dutch3]

Cell service is pretty spotty in this area, and nonexistent in many places nearby. Sitting in my living room, I have about a 50-50 chance of a call staying connected.

If I drive 5 miles up the road, there is no service whatsoever. I don't depend on a cell phone very much. And good luck finding a pay phone around here (or anywhere else, for that matter).

[johnny_22]

An attempt at an answer

1. Cell phone is good, since the first caller is the victim. Second caller is the one getting arrested. If you defend yourself, you don't want to be running away looking for that last working payphone. "flee=guilt" in many jurists' minds.

2. Instead of punching in 911, store your local cop and Sheriff numbers for where you travel. In my day-to-day travels, it's only a few cities I need to enter. Lots of room in the phone. That way, you get immediate phone action.