Supply and demand - 1

Tracy, CA, is now charging for 911 calls. Just as many people choose not to buy medical insurance, many will likely choose not to pay the $48 annual 911 fee. Then, if they need emergency services, they face a $300 per-call fee. If more people choose both to opt out, and, because of the call-out fee, decide not to call 911, not only will Tracy be a less safe place to live, but the cost of 911 services will continue to rise as fixed costs have to be spread over ever smaller numbers of annual contributions and one time fees.

There are some - the more extreme second amendment crowd - who think that we should all be carrying guns and looking out for ourselves anyway. With this additional (regressive) tax for public safety services, there may come a point when people who had been happy to rely on the police to keep order may find the case for arming themselves in self defense too economically compelling to ignore. Even at today's rates, one call-out costs almost exactly the same as a Remington 12 gauge shotgun - which you can use as many time as you need.  

At that point, we'd be back in the Wild West of 150 years ago. Some see that kind of "rugged individualism" and self reliance as a romantic idyl. To me, it's my worst nightmare.