NationStates Jolt Archive


Paranoid? Overkill?

Brutland and Norden
27-05-2008, 19:29
Now, I stumbled upon this thing (I know it's old, but...)

WARNING! Be very aware of WHERE you are shooting in the United States!
Chris Auman , Sep 13, 2003; 09:52 a.m.

I'm writing this to alert all of you to be very aware WHERE you are shooting while in the United States! Yesterday I was out doing some street shooting and apparently I wandered a little too close to our Federal Building downtown with my camera and I was immediately ran down by four officers, detained and questioned for over an hour.
more here (http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005zOm)

Same goes here. The only places I know in my city where you can get the same treatment are around the three-block area fronting the United States Embassy, plus a few others. The American embassy in my city is surrounded by the seaside promenade/park, a children's museum, and high-end residential/commercial areas. Of course people are sorely tempted to take photographs... including me. But I was cautioned by a friend who lives in a building in front of the embassy NOT to take pictures - even if using a camera phone - or else if somebody notices you... you're dead meat.

AFAIK the only other place here where photography from a public place is prohibited is on the river ferry that passes near the Presidential Palace. No other place I know. Heck, we even take pictures in front of the headquarters of the Navy, near the Supreme Court, and near the Department of Justice! I am puzzled as to why we/you get these reactions from doing something as simple as photography.

So, NSG, do you think there is some sort of overreaction/overkill here? Do you think they're being so paranoid, or are their fears of photography justified? Do you think butter is better than margarine?
Damor
27-05-2008, 19:38
Rather ridiculous, because any terrorist would surely use hidden cameras.

And butter is better than margarine.
Yossarian Lives
27-05-2008, 20:47
Took me a while to click [no pun intended] that you were talking about shooting camera film. :)

Sounded quite reasonable to detain people opening fire near public buildings.
Reichstatt
27-05-2008, 21:50
While I do feel sorry for you for being detained like that, there have been examples throughout the history of cameras that justify it. Pearl Harbor in '41 comes to mind, when people who look like civilians have photographed places, then an enemy has used those photographs to better plan attacks. Plus many people are very worried about terrorism these days.
Conserative Morality
27-05-2008, 21:51
Overkill by the government. As usual.