the best intentions....

Discussion in 'Freedom and Liberty' started by CATO, May 12, 2012.


  1. CATO

    CATO Monkey+++

    A microphone that can "hear" the report of gunfire can also hear conversations. Wanna bet sometime someone's going to write a program to pick up key terms instead of gunfire and there will be no more need to get a wiretap warrant....everything will be wired up already.




    Atlanta looks at technology to track gunfire

    Story posted 2012.05.11 at 05:32 PM EDT
    An Atlanta city council member thinks he has found a way to at least partially pay for a network of highly sensitive microphones designed to track gunfire.

    Ideally, the technology would help officers get to the scene quicker.

    The system is called Shot Spotter, and according to Councilman Michael Bond, the company has already deployed similar microphone systems in cities across the U.S.

    Ron Lall, who heads a neighborhood public safety committee, has worked on the project for more than a year since several city residents complained about gunfire striking their homes. He said he began to search for a technology solution to the problem and discovered Shot Spotter.

    Shot Spotter essentially mounts a series of microphones and relays sensors at points around the city, either on utility poles or tall buildings. It listens for celebratory, random or crime-related gunfire, pinpoints the location, then alerts police dispatchers. According to the company, the system is able to tell the difference between gunshots and firecrackers.

    "There are at least 10,000 gunfire events that take place in the city every year based on 911 calls," said Lall. "The actual number is probably more like 50,000. We have a number of homes in the area that have been struck by gunfire."

    The problem is the price tag. Bond estimates the system costs between $1 million and $1.5 million a year to operate. He wants to divert about $680,000 collected from cellphone tower fees to pay for at least some of the program.

    "The city will be safer. The police would be able to respond more quickly," said Bond. "It's just a win-win all the way around."

    But some southeast Atlanta residents are worried that such a system would be too much government intrusion.

    Bond has sponsored a Shot Spotter ordinance. There is no word yet if or when it will come up for a vote.


    Story posted 2012.05.11 at 05:32 PM EDT
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    I really do NOT see how response time would be any less.
     
  3. TailorMadeHell

    TailorMadeHell Lurking Shadow Creature

    They use the same system in Kommifornia. And they also have a version of it in use in the military, more advanced of course. Don't worry, big brother cares for you and will keep you safe.
     
    Sapper John, oldawg and tulianr like this.
  4. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    Useless as tits on a boar hog in many situations - a drive-by, or the shooter runs as soon as he's shot his gun. He's long gone by the time Johnny Law shows up.
    That $680,000 could pay for several more cops patrolling the streets.
     
    TailorMadeHell likes this.
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