Background Information: "The Runaway Bride"

Yeah, it was a sad story. Yeah, she shouldn't have done it. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

But you know what made things even a little worse? It was when YAHOO! News Service got their hands on the recording of the 911 call and posted it on the internet.

They posted a 911 call on the internet for amusement.

Slow news day? Probably. Still, it was a bad idea. It had to be embarrasing for the gal, she was in enough hot water as it was... but it got me thinking... what if I call 911? Does it end up on the internet?

So I wrote a letter to Congress and the President of the United States. Here is that letter.

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May 2, 2005


RE: Emergency 911 Calls Should NOT be Public Information


To All United States Congress Persons, Senators, and the President of the United States:

Today in Yahoo News, I see the following headline:

“VIDEO: Hear Runaway Bride’s Fake Phone Call: ABC News - After her tearful appearance in court, the tape of Jennifer Wilbanks' "call for help" to her fiancé has been released.”

There is no reason that this 911 call, or any 911 call, should be released to the public for the purposes of amusement. It makes me less likely to want to call 911 in an emergency out of fear that I might end up on the Internet or on the evening news.

Cordially,


Paul D. McDonald