It's like passing a law to prohibit scanners in a car. Sooooo... normal folk can't have them. But do you think somebody who's going to rob a bank cares about breaking the scanner law? Criminals don't care about breaking laws. That's why they're criminals. The rest of us have to pay for that 1 in 100th time the bank robber will use a scanner in the commission of a crime. The law is useless in my opinion. Why don't they simplify the law and just keep it a crime for using a scanner in the commission of a crime. Let us have a scanner in our cars. If we use it to commit a crime... then punish us for it.
Sure... encryption will be hard... and illegal to crack. But it's not impossible. If there's a will... there's a way. Individuals will find a way around it just as something to do. Criminals will pay for it. Shady radio techs will sell it... anything to make a buck.
I remember back in the 50's when people were scared to even hook up the so called "illegal" extension phone. Then along came illegal cable TV boxes, listening to cell phones conversations and whatever.
Just because it's against the law doesn't prevent people from breaking the law. Have you ever drove 65 in a 55 mph zone? You were breaking the law. It's a against the law to kill somebody... but people do it everyday.
In the end... I too believe listeners (especially criminals) can compromise the safety of our police forces. The ones that don't have encryption use cell phones.
ps: I was a fire chief 13 years ago. They had to let me out of the wacko hut just so I could retire!