LA Sheriff Threatens To Submit Photographer to FBI's Hit List: I saw this on another forum: http://www.phototips.biz/2011/10/la-sheriff-threatens-to-submit.html#more What do you think?

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I saw this on another forum:

http://www.phototips.biz/2011/10/la-sheriff-threatens-to-submit.html#more

What do you think?

Where are we headed?

MPratter Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

There isn't a need for a terrorist to take a picture of a place they can just go. The entire concept is absurd. Hell, You could go down there with a tape measure and note pad. If you had a hard-hat the cop would never see you.

I'm disturbed that the safety of any people resides with this man and his gun.

The police don't have a RIGHT to do anything, they have procedures to follow to ensure public safety in keeping with law.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

MPratter wrote:

There isn't a need for a terrorist to take a picture of a place they can just go. The entire concept is absurd. Hell, You could go down there with a tape measure and note pad. If you had a hard-hat the cop would never see you.

I'm disturbed that the safety of any people resides with this man and his gun.

The police don't have a RIGHT to do anything, they have procedures to follow to ensure public safety in keeping with law.

Another entry on the same Forum:

OK to bring gun into Wisconsin State Capital - But camera will get you some jail time
http://www.phototips.biz/2011/10/ok-to-bring-gun-into-wisconsin-state.html

We are turning into a nation of idiots.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

just because it is posted on the internet does not make it true. most internet "reporters" never even heard of the 5w's and the h. ( just the foundation of journalism that's all) also the fbi does not have a "hit" list. if they did don't you think that child molesters and drug kingpins would be on it? the CIA has a hit list, of al queda members they are after using missle firing drones, something the cia is doing quite well for once. now according to the internet, the incredible frog boy broke out of prison carrying a jar containing hitler's brain. Gotta go catch him, i hear theres a big reward.

Greg Loc: Maryland

sinatraman wrote:

just because it is posted on the internet does not... (show quote)

Sinatraman, if you think that this kind of thing doesn't happen all the time, you are wrong. You're focusing on what the cop said and are making it sound as if that came from the detainee. No, there's no FBI hit list, and the cop I'm sure knows that. He used that to intimidate the photographer. It's not the photographers job to correct what the cop incorrectly stated especially since it really had no impact on what the story was about. There are numerous occurrences of this happening, and frequently there are apologies from the authorities after the fact. Our rights are being violated all the time in the name of 'safety'. The government doesn't like things recorded, even more so when it can show them violating our rights

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

robert-photos wrote:

We are turning into a nation of idiots.

Turning into? No, already are.

1) The Kardashian sisters
2) Ashton Kucher
3) Lady Gaga
4) Westboro Baptist Church
5) "Intelligent design" as a science curriculum
6) Trendy bottled water
7) Gangsta rap
8) Electric cars

The list is endless.

waterbug49307 Loc: All over, currently Big Rapids Michigan

And the list goes on.....I was told no photographs of a building by a security guard on a public sidewalk in downtown Charlotte, NC.

MPratter Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Not to mention schmucks on the street who think hasting a photographer makes them a hero.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

If I'm ever confronted by a cop or security guard on public property, I always ask "what portions of the Constitution are not in effect here"?
It's not the same on private property. On public property (especially a street or sidewalk), a citizen has the right to stand there, walk, do whatever, as long as they are not hindering other people's rights. Photographing, isn't infringing on anyone else's rights and it's not on private property, so a security guard has no say on the matter.
And cops don't have a say either as long as you're not breaking the law. And if there is a law on the books that says you can't photograph certain places, that law is unconstitutional by its own definition.

KG

Quote:

And cops don't have a say either as long as you're not breaking the law.

Sadly, cops often threaten or actually use charges of disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, etc. as a means of "dealing" with people who "dare" to stand their ground and challenge the cop's authority. So even when the citizen is right, he/she still might end up in jail charged with something else.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

KG wrote:

Quote:

And cops don't have a say either as long as you're not breaking the law.

Sadly, cops often threaten or actually use charges of disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, etc. as a means of "dealing" with people who "dare" to stand their ground and challenge the cop's authority. So even when the citizen is right, he/she might end up in jail charged with something else.

That's when civil rights lawsuits against the department and the individual cop come into play. A few of these lawsuits hit them and they have to alter their stance a bit.

jkaye65 Loc: Chico, CA

Sorry, but less than one minute into the video I could tell that the idiot who made the video purposely escalated the situation.

I've been approached by "the law" countless times, including on and near military installations and government buildings and never had any problems.

As long as you are legally taking the pics, answer the policemans questions, show your ID and you are back taking pics in no time.

If you act like you are hiding something....expect to be there longer.

I shut the video off less than three minutes into it because I have better things to do with my time than watch some idiot create his own drama.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

jkaye65 wrote:

Sorry, but less than one minute into the video I c... (show quote)

Agreed. Except, you have a constitutional right to be an idiot too, and the cop was violating it just the same.
And there are many other instances where the photographer was attempting to cooperate but was still hindered. This guy was just testing the cop to see how reasonable it would be, or how unreasonable. In my opinion, a cop saying "I don't know if a law is being broken" is an admission that unless he has reason to believe that a law is being broken, he is in violation of your civil rights just to be hassling you.
A citizen has the right to be stupid and a cop is supposed to be above that.

rbmartiniv Loc: Nacogdoches, TX

Rights are one thing, but purposefully baiting a police officer to prove it is another. He was looking for trouble and he found it.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Rights are the only thing. For this officer to associate him with "Al Qaida" was preposterous. Yeah, maybe this guy was looking for trouble - but the fact that he found it proves his point. When the officer admits it's not illegal, but he 'wants to know why you're taking pictures', that borders on harassment. The cop needs a quick course on Constitutional Law.