Bill Would Outlaw the Public Release of 9-1-1 Calls

Survivors of the 2015 Blanco River flood that claimed the life of about one dozen people are trying to change the law that allowed news stations to get their hands on 9-1-1 call recordings made in their time of panic, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.

Jonathan McCain says he was still planning the memorial for his wife when the tapes were released.  He told a Texas House committee this week, it was like ripping the wound back open.

"There were a lot of emotions, what I was going through, but none of them were anger until that point," he testified.  "That kind of didn’t sit well with me."

House Bill 3640 by State Representative Todd Hunter would make recordings of 9-1-1 calls off limits unless the family gives permission.

"We got to get a little morality scruples and concerns for families that go through awful tragic circumstances," he testified.

The bill would protect law enforcement, making sure they can get everything they need during investigations.

McCain says the recordings of phone calls serve no public purpose, and only lead to more pain.

"What good comes of this?  People see videos and pictures and they know death occurred."

IMAGE; GETTY


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