Cell Phones: You Make the Call

It was recently announced that the city council is judging on a ban of cell phone use in privately-owned business. This may be a logical decision at first; however cell phones are more helpful than previously believed. They enable people to communicate with comfort miles apart. They can also display information at the press of a button. Cell phones, with their email, internet, and calling capabilities, are a piece of technology that embellishes our lives. Living in a society without them may cause utter chaos and uproar. People would be annoyed with having to search throughout a whole store to find their children rather than just calling them. A cell phone ban is not a good idea in places such as restaurants, movie theaters, and retail stores.

Cell phones can turn out to be tremendously helpful in tight situations, although some may seem them as annoying or distracting. Imagine a young man eating seafood at the local five-star restaurant. He is enjoying his dinner until all of a sudden, he begins to choke. If cell phones are not allowed in restaurants, who would help the man? On the other hand, if cell phones are not banned, someone could easily call 911. This simple gesture can save that man's life. Think about it city council, what is worth more: A measly, little fine or the father to his children and son to his parents? Cell phones are like a fire extinguisher. They are an essential, and can prevent immense problems.

Additionally, not all businesses in the city are the same. They all have different needs and therefore different rules. For example, a store is a place with a lot of things going on at the same time. Someone is buying clothes there whereas another person is looking at jewelry. This atmosphere is eerily different from that of a movie theater, a quieter place that can be easily controlled. It is because of this that maybe the store would condone cell phone use but the movie theater may not. Cell phones can help people keep up with the fast-paced ways of a retail store, but may not be necessary in a theater. The different purposes of each business should leave the business itself to make the decision on whether or not cell phones may be used. The council banning cell phones could be troublesome in the store, despite being helpful in the theater. This type of imbalance cannot happen, and therefore cell phones cannot be banned.

Moreover, cell phones can also benefit children. Teenagers go everywhere in today's society. They can be found at the local theater, eating out at a restaurant, or shopping. They should be allowed to use a cell phone if necessary. For instance, once my younger cousin was almost kidnapped in the store. I quickly called the police, and got my cousin back safely. A cell phone prevented any harm from coming to him. I am sure the members of the city council would not want this fate to befall their children. Almost 70 children were kidnapped in this city alone last year. City council, if you allow cell phones in private businesses, pictures of missing children may no longer have to appear on the back of milk cartons.

In brief, cell phones should be allowed in places such as restaurants and retail stores because they are more helpful than they appear. However, this decision should still be left up to the business. City council, if cell phones are banned in private businesses, walking might as well be banned too. There are simply too many reasons for cell phones not to be banned, some that can even affect the members of the council. The council is right in wanting to decrease distractions, but banning cell phones is not how this problem should be solved.

Voting no is the right thing to do when it comes to banning cell phones in private businesses. There are countless ways to cut down on disturbances in society; however this is not one of them. The thought of cell phones not being allowed is disturbing itself. One alternative to banning cell phones is limiting smoking areas. Smoking can be both harmful and upsetting to many people. Approximately eight percent of accidents and deaths were prevented last year because of a cell phone. We would not want to contribute to a decrease in that statistic. City council, do not ban cell phones, it is in the best interest of the people.