What we have here is a Failure to Understand the 1st Amendment

Feuer Frei! · 08-22-11, 09:30 PM

The Police Chief of Long Beach has confirmed that his department's policy is to detain photographers who do nothing more than take pictures in public places, and that he neither has, nor plans to implement, any guidelines for these detentions. He classes photography with other "suspicious activity" such as "attempts to acquire illegal or illicit biological agent (anthrax, ricin, Eboli, smallpox, etc.)" and "In possession, or utilizes, explosives (for illegal purposes)."

"If an officer sees someone taking pictures of something like a refinery," says McDonnell, "it is incumbent upon the officer to make contact with the individual." McDonnell went on to say that whether said contact becomes detainment depends on the circumstances the officer encounters. "

SOURCE

And here's an example of a Police Officer being a Clown, assaulting a Camera Man for filming him:

Some bad Precedents on access to the Government's own footage:
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/35/3557.asp

Rare cases when Credentials don't help, even if you are from a Television News Station:

08-22-11, 09:30 PM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	What we have here is a Failure to Understand the 1st Amendment The Police Chief of Long Beach has confirmed that his department's policy is to detain photographers who do nothing more than take pictures in public places, and that he neither has, nor plans to implement, any guidelines for these detentions. He classes photography with other "suspicious activity" such as "attempts to acquire illegal or illicit biological agent (anthrax, ricin, Eboli, smallpox, etc.)" and "In possession, or utilizes, explosives (for illegal purposes)." "If an officer sees someone taking pictures of something like a refinery," says McDonnell, "it is incumbent upon the officer to make contact with the individual." McDonnell went on to say that whether said contact becomes detainment depends on the circumstances the officer encounters. " SOURCE And here's an example of a Police Officer being a Clown, assaulting a Camera Man for filming him: Some bad Precedents on access to the Government's own footage: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/35/3557.asp Rare cases when Credentials don't help, even if you are from a Television News Station: __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS