Making the call
The question isn't really whether cell phone jamming should be allowed, because jamming is already taking place. Federal authorities have already granted themselves a legal monopoly to jam cell phones. And criminals have granted themselves an illegal ability to do so as well.
The question is: Why shouldn't anybody else be allowed? Show me where it says in the Constitution that the federal government has the right to deny, say, California the right to protect its citizens from cell phone-abusing criminals -- both inside and outside of prisons. Where is the constitutional authority to tell Texas or Oregon that it can't pass a state law that allows cell phone jammers in movie theaters? Why can't New Hampshire allow ordinary citizens to carry handheld cell phone jammers if it wants to?
Most people treat cell phone jamming as a simple, black-and-white issue. But I think it's a complex issue that needs a thorough re-examination.
If you support bans on cell phone jamming, shouldn't the feds be banned as well?
If you think it's OK for the feds to jam calls for public safety, then shouldn't the states be allowed to jam for the same reason?
And why on Earth shouldn't individual states, counties or communities be allowed to pass their own laws based on their own local values concerning the banning of cell phone jammers?
What's your opinion?
Mike Elgan writes about technology and global tech culture. He blogs about the technology needs, desires and successes of mobile warriors in his Computerworld blog, The World Is My Office . Contact Mike at mike.elgan@elgan.com , follow him on Twitter or his blog, The Raw Feed .
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