Dear Congressman McDermott,
I am writing about an issue in the interaction of technology, crime, and personal safety. I am a resident of Seattle and live in the 7th District, so I approach you as my representative.
Here on Capitol Hill, as in many urban areas, we are suffering with a crime wave of smartphone muggings. A good friend of mine was mugged while riding ths bus, the mugger grabbed the phone and ran off the bus with his phone.
While there are things individuals and the community can do to protect ourselves, I think phone manufacturers and carriers can act far more effectively. The problem is that there is no financial incentive for them to take action. On the contrary, they benefit financially every time a phone is stolen and a replacement must be purchased, or someone who acquires a stolen phone pays for cellular service.
**I would like you to sponsor legislation that would require smartphone manufacturers and mobile carriers to include features that would render a stolen phone inoperative. Phon