Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/16

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Subject: [Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland Security
From: jls at runbox.com (Jeffery Smith)
Date: Fri Jul 16 07:51:53 2004

I was hassled for taking a picture of a blue heron in Venice, LA. There
is a refinery or some sort of chemical plant nearby but not visible from
where I was shooting. He didn't run me in, but kept his patrol car
idling near me until I gave up and left. He didn't abuse me in any way,
but let me know nicely that my presence was not wanted.

Venice is as far south as I can get on the east bank of the Mississippi.
It is about 18 inches above water level and rural.

Jeffery Smith
New Orleans, LA


-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+jls=runbox.com@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+jls=runbox.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
buzz.hausner@verizon.net
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 7:28 AM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: Re: [Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland
Security

You know, I have been arrested and harassed all over the world for
taking photographs.  Maybe it's just me and maybe I just attract
authority figures.  The first time I was run in, I was fifteen and
taking pictures on the IRT in New York in 1965.  I have been "arrested"
for taking innocuous pictures at Entebe airport in 1975.  I was arrested
for taking pictures of a ship in Dar Es Salaam harbour.  I was detained
for taking pictuires of railroad tracks in Bulgaria in 1970.  Several
other such incidents have befallen me.  Photographers have been given a
hard time for doing their job probably since Daguere.  Are there any
serious photographers out there who HAVEN'T been arrested,detained, or
otherwise hasseled byu some authority prior to September 11, 2001?

Buzz Hausner
> 
> From: sdp35 <sdp35@cwazy.co.uk>
> Date: 2004/07/16 Fri AM 08:14:02 EDT
> To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland
Security
> 
> Fundamental questions here:
> 
> - Did the 9/11 hijackers need photos to do their deed?
> - Did the Madrid bombers need photos of the train to do their deed?
> - Would terrorists need photos of the NYC subway to attack it?
> 
> Of course not.  For the plane attacks, they needed flying lessons, not

> photos.  For railway attacks, all they'd need is about $20 for several

> fares, and spend the day riding the trains and making mental notes.  
> For the coordinated attacks themselves, add explosives and a couple of

> cheap wristwatches to synchronize the actual blasts.  Nothing more.
> 
> Arresting/harassing photographers making images of public edifices
like 
> bridges, power plants, etc does not, in any way, make anybody safer.  
> It's 'feel good' security - it makes it LOOK like the Gov't is 
> protecting the citizenry...but it's false security.
> 
> Craig Zeni
> Mayberry, NC

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In reply to: Message from buzz.hausner at verizon.net (buzz.hausner@verizon.net) ([Leica] Photo student harassed in Seattle by Homeland Security)