A Pennsylvania man died February 6th after 911 was called 10 times, according to an Associated Press story.
The story claims 30 hours had passed and the victim between the time the victim's girlfriend began calling for help and the time 50-year-old Curtis Mitchell finally died waiting for them.
The story report the frantic calls weren't passed on from one shift to the other, so each call was reported as a new incident.
The paramedics were within a quarter of a mile of the victim on two occassions but said they would have to walk in to get him because the snow was too deep. The paramedics chose not to in both occassions.
This particular incident involved a dying man and paramedics. Imagine for a moment that your wife is alone in the home with your children and someone is trying to break in to rape your wife and kill her and your children. When seconds count the police will only be minutes (or perhaps 30 hours) away.
The ambulance drivers say snow prevented them from getting to Curtis Mitchell. Would it be any different if the police were trying to get to your home? The reason they couldn't get there in time would be of no consequence to the outcome nor of any comfort to you when you arrived to find your wife and beloved children dead.
Now, let's suppose your wife had a firearm to defend herself and your children with. The bad guy breaks down your door and your wife gets a firearm. At that point two options are available to the would-be rapist/murderer. Either he runs away and all is good in Gotham City. Option two is he isn't deterred by the firearm, balieving that she really won't shoot him, she does shoot him dead and the police eventually arrive to call his next of kin.
I like those odds better than leaving my life in the hands of 911. But that's just me.
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