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Mar-08-2011 20:28printcomments

Florida Conservatives Standing Up For Liberty With New Law to Ban Farm Photo

Republicans are the anti-freedom party.

Cows
(cc photo by macieklew)

(MIAMI) - Once again, right-wing politics smells like freedom: Taking photographs from the roadside of a sunrise over hay bales near the Suwannee River, horses grazing near Ocala or sunset over citrus groves along the Indian River could land you in jail under a Senate bill filed Monday.

SB 1246 by Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, would make it a first-degree felony to photograph a farm without first obtaining written permission from the owner.

A farm is defined as any land “cultivated for the purpose of agricultural production, the raising and breeding of domestic animals or the storage of a commodity.”

The specific freedom-enhancing element of this particular initiative is that apparently freedom-hating animal rights activists have been known to secretly document farm activities in order to advance socialism.

The article quotes Wilton Simpson, “a farmer who lives in Norman’s district” who “said the bill is needed to protect the property rights of farmers and the ‘intellectual property’ involving farm operations.”

I sort of suspect he just threw in the spurious intellectual property claim to make me angry.

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Originally published by: YGLESIAS




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Jussamzinho September 23, 2012 3:22 am (Pacific time)

Yay! Thanks for the shout out! :-)Tomorrow is my third pick up-very exciting. Though I am a bit ovelmherwed-undertaking a whole share on my own (well, I do have Adam, but he's a bit less veggiephilic than me) was a bit overzealous? My fridge (that I share with two roommates) is overflowing with greens and I'm struggling to get them all eaten, with my normal eat-out, order-in work-14-hour days lifestyle. This morning I woke up 30 minutes early to prepare my large dinner salad (three delicious types of lettuces) and brunch chard and broccoli fritatta to eat at work.We also have a hook up with other local farms that have grass finished beef, pastured poultry and eggs and fresh raw milk and cheeses. So last night at 1am, Adam and I were ordering meat, eggs and cheese for the freezer-the farmers link them up with the CSA, so next week in addition to my heaps of veggies, I'll have steaks, eggs, chickens and cheese. I hope my roommates don't kick me out for lack of fridge space!Thanks so much for all your help and advice-I definitely wouldn't be eating this well if not for you!Oh, and I haven't seen SATC yet (going tomorrow night) but I have a feeling that my life isn't quite like theirs LOVE!


JDA March 10, 2011 8:53 pm (Pacific time)

Udderly ridiculous. And the GOP thinks they're 'speaking for the people.' With the help of the Tea Party, they've wasted no time in alienating real Americans. At this rate, it will be a another Democratic landslide.


AC March 10, 2011 6:08 pm (Pacific time)

dong ha red - Understand your position about political parties. But the Democrats of today have no more in common with their 1960s ancestors, than the Republicans of today have with their 1960s ancestors. Barry Goldwater would be a conservative Dem these days. Hang in there!


ericcire March 10, 2011 5:31 pm (Pacific time)

dong ha red, just hold your nose and vote Democrat. It what I do, and deserting the party is the only thing that gets the Republicans attention.


monica March 10, 2011 4:49 pm (Pacific time)

So you STILL don't think you live in a POLICE STATE?


Ken March 10, 2011 4:06 pm (Pacific time)

Meet you in court, right-wing facists


dong ha red March 10, 2011 3:38 pm (Pacific time)

Nothing surprises me any more from the GOP. I've been Rep. for years but am getting sick of the crap they try to pull lately. I can't go Democratic. I'm a Vietvet. So now I'm forced to the Greens or to the Constitution party. Sucks, man!


xexon March 10, 2011 3:29 pm (Pacific time)

I wouldn't worry about it. There's no way it's going to stand up to a serious challenge in court. This is just another example of your elected representatives wasting the taxpayer's money and time. That's the real crime here x


Robert Sullivan March 10, 2011 3:17 pm (Pacific time)

What's the big deal? This is the norm in many countries - like COMMUNIST CHINA ;)


Still an American March 10, 2011 2:04 pm (Pacific time)

Are you people really more interested in whether Anna is right or wrong than how this repiglican punk, norman is attempting to trample yet another piece of American freedom? Are you all really that far out of focus? It is not important whather Anna is or isn't correct. What IS important is to stopp this jerk and all others like him.


Dumbo March 10, 2011 2:04 pm (Pacific time)

What if I carry a camera and pretend I'm filming the farm but never click the camera?


Bob March 10, 2011 12:46 pm (Pacific time)

Anna is a liar, I just read the bill and it states nothing about public roadways being permissible. Also, as long as you aren't filming people's faces, why should filming a farm be illegal at all?


monroe1200 March 10, 2011 12:41 pm (Pacific time)

Anna - I just read it, and you're wrong. It states that public roadways would be a illegal spot to take a picture from. You might want to take your own advice, and read the bill. Have a great day!


Josh March 10, 2011 11:10 am (Pacific time)

looks like Google Earth will be in for a surprise


Jay March 10, 2011 11:10 am (Pacific time)

fishy


Law Student March 10, 2011 11:07 am (Pacific time)

Yea, the bill basically increases the crime of trespassing on the farm if you videotape without the owner's permission. It just turns a regular crime with minimal consequence(trespass on open land) and increases the penalty because PETA types are willing to break a minimal law. the writer of this article is a biased retard. Enough said.


Spider March 10, 2011 11:02 am (Pacific time)

@ Anna: I did read the bill. It appears that section 1 applies to people entering the farm, however section 2 says it prohibits any A person who photographs...at or of a farm...without the consent of the owners. It's this 'at or of a farm' line that does in fact make it illegal to take a picture of a farm.


Jay March 10, 2011 10:42 am (Pacific time)

Anna - You need to read the bill. There's nothing aboutroadways. (2) A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree, . . .


A Mo March 10, 2011 10:34 am (Pacific time)

@Anna Hey, I don't mean to call you out on yer shit but I'm pretty sure the bill is saying that it is a felony to take pictures of "any tract of land cultivated for the purpose of agricultural production" Good job on reading the actual bill though.


Paul March 10, 2011 9:59 am (Pacific time)

The bill is exactly what the first comment says. But I wonder if there's a loophole, because it says "where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted". I would argue that animal cruelty is not legitimate. Just one more bill to trample on the rights of the general public.


Paul March 10, 2011 9:58 am (Pacific time)

The bill is exactly what the first comment says. But I wonder if there's a loophole, because it says "where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted". I would argue that animal cruelty is not legitimate. Just one more bill to trample on the rights of the general public.


jermany March 10, 2011 9:50 am (Pacific time)

@Anna - DId you even try reading the actual bill? Section 1 states that you can't enter a farm's property without permission. Section 2 prohibits taking pictures of a farm, but does not specify anything about where the pictures are being taken from. They are not connected, and section 2 prohibits every example the writer gives.


Jermany March 10, 2011 9:48 am (Pacific time)

(2) A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise 17 produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at 18 or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture 19 operations are being conducted without the written consent of 20 the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits 21 a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 22 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, Florida Statutes. That's the relevant section, and it doesn't say anything about where the pics are being taken from. Did you read the acutal bill?


Durr March 10, 2011 9:45 am (Pacific time)

The text of the bill states nothing about from where the photo is taken.


John Williams March 10, 2011 9:40 am (Pacific time)

It's not surprising. Florida agriculture is #1 in the US in using slave labor in abusive conditions. Who would want to allow the public to document this practice, which goes on with the state's consent. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/hp/content/moderndayslavery/index.html


Brad March 10, 2011 9:38 am (Pacific time)

Yes, I read the bill and it says you have to have written permission or you are committing a first-degree felony. That means any photo of a farm! Did you read the bill Anna?


Guido March 10, 2011 9:27 am (Pacific time)

Read number 2 again, Anna. They can get you anywhere according to this.


jay March 10, 2011 9:23 am (Pacific time)

Another attempt to can whistle blowers. This law will make documenting safety violations impossible.


Sukach March 10, 2011 9:14 am (Pacific time)

Actually Anna, the post is correct. Here is the text of the bill: "A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree." This section doesn't say anything about roads. If you take a picks of a farm or building on a farm without written consent, its a felony.


Charlie March 10, 2011 9:01 am (Pacific time)

Anna, unfortunately you are mistaken. The key section being "prohibiting a person from entering onto a farm or photographing or video recording a farm without the owner’s written consent;" Where it states "entering onto a farm or photograph... of a farm", the word OR makes it a felony just to take pictures of a farm even from a public roadway.


Charlie March 10, 2011 9:01 am (Pacific time)

Anna, unfortunately you are mistaken. The key section being "prohibiting a person from entering onto a farm or photographing or video recording a farm without the owner’s written consent;" Where it states "entering onto a farm or photograph... of a farm", the word OR makes it a felony just to take pictures of a farm even from a public roadway.


Concerned, literate citizen March 10, 2011 9:01 am (Pacific time)

Yes, I read the actual bill: "(2) A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise 17 produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at 18 or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture 19 operations are being conducted without the written consent of 20 the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits 21 a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 22 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, Florida Statutes." The terminology "at or of", specifically the "or of" part, does NOT imply that photography must be occurring from within the property. Thus, the above analysis is justified in its concern that a roadside photographer could, in fact, be prosecuted under said law.


J March 10, 2011 9:00 am (Pacific time)

Actually Anna, the bill says nothing of the sort, making no allowances for photography from a public roadway. Did YOU read the bill?


J March 10, 2011 8:59 am (Pacific time)

Er... Anna? It clearly says, in the very bill that you have kindly provided the link for that photographing a farm without permission is a felony - and makes no provisions for where you photograph from. I quote: --- 'A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at ***OR OF**** a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree ...' Emphasis mine.


To Anna March 10, 2011 8:53 am (Pacific time)

That still doesn't explain why farms are in need of this special protection. Wouldn't this be covered by trespassing laws? And why a first-degree felony, it's that just a tiny bit of overkill?


D March 10, 2011 8:50 am (Pacific time)

@Anna: "(2) A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, Florida Statutes." You're misreading the opening to say "anybody who enters farmland AND takes photographs without consent" when it actually says anyone who enters farmland OR takes photographs without consent.


ray March 10, 2011 8:41 am (Pacific time)

this senator is wrongly trying to protect the farmers mistreatment of stock from the prying cameras of PETA..


Anna March 10, 2011 8:19 am (Pacific time)

Hey guys, ever try reading the actual bill? Public roadways are FINE! From what I can tell all the photo examples the writer gives are still permissible. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/1246/BillText/Filed/HTML

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