dukeblue219
New member
http://hutchnews.com/Todaystop/Nat--Geographic-photog-arrested-in-GC
Some interesting points to chew on. First, it seems they *were* trespassing by driving onto and launching from public property, though I suspect an arrest would never have been made if the farmers hadn't really been trying to keep them from photographing the cows. However, what I know some folks will find interesting are the following snippets:
After all, hundreds of thousands of cattle are fattening in a 100-mile radius around Garden City and such incidents could turn into a food security issue - especially in an era where agri-terrorism is a threat.
Sigh -- we're so paranoid and afraid of our own damn shadows. Somebody is flying around some cows in a 600 square mile area and our first concern is terrorism.
Steinmetz was circling around the feedlot and taking photographs - not flying straight across it, Popelka said. Criminal statute, however, Popelka said, doesn't define how far land goes - in this case, how far up. Moreover, while Congress has authorized flights and air travel, the photographer wasn't engaging in air travel to pass through on a public air highway.
"This was a low-level entry with intent to remain in that space," he said.
So, congress "allows" us to fly, for travel purposes, but if you're not on a public air highway look out, because you must be up to no good and need to be investigated.
Some interesting points to chew on. First, it seems they *were* trespassing by driving onto and launching from public property, though I suspect an arrest would never have been made if the farmers hadn't really been trying to keep them from photographing the cows. However, what I know some folks will find interesting are the following snippets:
After all, hundreds of thousands of cattle are fattening in a 100-mile radius around Garden City and such incidents could turn into a food security issue - especially in an era where agri-terrorism is a threat.
Sigh -- we're so paranoid and afraid of our own damn shadows. Somebody is flying around some cows in a 600 square mile area and our first concern is terrorism.
Steinmetz was circling around the feedlot and taking photographs - not flying straight across it, Popelka said. Criminal statute, however, Popelka said, doesn't define how far land goes - in this case, how far up. Moreover, while Congress has authorized flights and air travel, the photographer wasn't engaging in air travel to pass through on a public air highway.
"This was a low-level entry with intent to remain in that space," he said.
So, congress "allows" us to fly, for travel purposes, but if you're not on a public air highway look out, because you must be up to no good and need to be investigated.