[Persevero]

I think it is reasonably secure, as they can trace the source of the call, and prosecute those who do fake calls.

What’s the alternative? No one can call the police? Calls can be faked without 911, you know, just call the police in a normal fashion. Should the cops ignore those calls, too?

[fr_freak]

I think it is reasonably secure, as they can trace the source of the call, and prosecute those who do fake calls.

Wrong. The swatting incidents that have made the news recently were the result of spoofed caller IDs. That is to say that though the phone call was made from a location other than the Smith's house, it appeared to be coming from the Smith's house on the operator's control screen. This way, the hackers can say "I've got a gun and I'm going to kill everyone!" then hang up, and the 911 operators tracing the call (incorrectly) to the Smith's house, where they are sleeping peacefully, and BOOM, they wake up with M-16s in their faces.

I don't say we throw out the 911 system, even as it is, but I say that the police should not be able to use a 911 call solely as the basis for entering a residence, because the system is unreliable now. They should go investigate, but if they cannot find any evidence of a crime being committed and the occupants claim no knowledge, the police should have no legal basis for entering.