Is it mandatory to have a cell phone?

[The Rattler]

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.

This was the point I was trying to get across. It was an absurd suggestion given to me that in case of emergency you can always call 911 so you no longer need the right to self protection because the government is providing it.

[fiddletown]

This was the point I was trying to get across. It was an absurd suggestion given to me that in case of emergency you can always call 911 so you no longer need the right to self protection because the government is providing it.

Yes, that is an absurd suggestion. It's an absurd suggestion for a variety of reasons. Among other things, courts have consistently held, and there are statutes in a number of States to the effect, that the police have no duty to protect any individual. It's also absurd because, as discussed here, cell service is not available or inconsistent in some areas. And in any case, response time is usually far too long for a 911 call to be of any meaningful use in a rapidly unfolding emergency.

But none of that has anything to do with the government having some sort of obligation to give you a cell phone, nor does it give you a "get out of jail free" card if you carry a gun in violation of the law when the government doesn't give you a cell phone. Both those notions are at least as absurd.

It doesn't do the fight for the RKBA any good to counter idiotic anti-gun arguments with equally idiotic pro-gun arguments. It makes us look as dumb as the anti-gunners and damages our credibility.

[Uriah02]

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?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Rock_v._Gonzales

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia

These are all I need for the anti 2A people when they say the police will protect me. That and simple reason to infer that law enforcement is not crime prevention but crime response.

[magsnubby]

My word, you are an impatient fellow....J/K.

.

Yeah i know. I'm just getting old and a little cantankerous. they should be here any time.

[Cos]

I have called them once to report a late night gas station robbery which my family has spotted happening as we were leaving. Call has been answered immediately, in while they were taking my report a unit has been dispatched and caught BGs.

I mustve been lucky, I think.

[tombinghamthegreat]

No, because the government is not your mommy. If you're an adult, you need to take care of yourself. If you're a child, talk to mommy and daddy about it.

this

[scarville]

New Year eve 1995:
"911. What is your emergency?"
"My dumb *** drunken neighbor is firing a gun into the air. I'll identify him and testify in court".
"We'll send a unit right out."

I'm still waiting for a patrol car to show up.

Wow! When seconds count the police are 15 years away.