[Arkinsaw]

If the people of a community don't want dirty old men paying too much improper attention to their minor daughters (or sons) then they have a right to discourage their actions.

I fail to see how taking photographs at a public event can be restricted by the government.

I doubt that either the government, or the people, would have much of a legal case to prevent someone from taking a photograph of something at a public event that it is not illegal to look at with their own two eyes, or that would not raise an eyebrow if viewed on the 10 o'clock sportscast.

If the man does something illegal with the photographs or sells them for profit without permission in a manner likely to cause harm then they have a case. But the government cannot prosecute someone or prohibit them from doing something that is legal because of what they think he or she is thinking.

I'm surprised someone would actually want the government to be able to do that.

[ActionNewsBill]

But the government cannot prosecute someone or prohibit them from doing something that is legal because of what they think he or she is thinking.

I'm surprised someone would actually want the government to be able to do that.

Arkinsaw, meet Cultural Jihad.

[Cultural Jihad]

What is the government but the fathers and mothers of these children? The rules call for all spectator-guests to be sportmanlike. Sitting there drooling over the cheerleader squad is apparently not sportmanlike, according to the good people of Lincoln, Nebraska.

[plain talk]

This is where common sense comes into play. A 74 year old man zooming his camera in on high school girls? OK with me to boot him the hell out of the place.

[APBaer]

"But the government cannot prosecute someone or prohibit them from doing something that is legal because of what they think he or she is thinking."

Exactly, as was pointed out previously in:

Standing On The Corner
(Frank Loesser 1956)

Well, I?m standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
I?m always standing on the corner underneath the springtime sky
Well, you can?t go to jail for what you?re thinking
Or for the 'woo' look in your eye
You been standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, they go by
And it?s Saturday and I?m so broke
And I couldn?t buy a girl a nickel Coke
I?m going, so what, I?m feeling just like a millionaire
Now just take me down to Main Street
And I?ll survey the harem waiting for me there
I?m gonna be standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
Oh baby, what you do now?
Standing on the corner giving all the girls the eye
Well this ain't much of an occupation
Give it a whirl, give it a try
And you?ll be standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, they go by
You know that I?m the cat that?s got the cream
And I ain?t got me a girl but I can dream
I ain?t got me a girl but I can wish
Now just take me down to Main Street
And I?ll select my own, imagine my own imaginary dish
I?m standing on the corner watching all the girls go by
I?m gonna be standing on the corner underneath the springtime sky
You know you can?t get arrested for what you?re thinking
Or for the 'woo' look in your eye
You been standing on the corner watching all the girls
Watching all the girls, watching all the girls, they go by
I?m gonna watch ?em go by
Oh, hubba hubba, man
Go by, yeah
I?m gonna watch ?em go by

[gwjack]

Your comment about prosecuting/prohibiting thoughts reminded me of one of my favorite stories about the late Abe Lemmons (basketball coach).

Once when Abe's team was being routed with the assistance of several questionable calls, he called the head referee over and asked him if he could get a technical foul for what he was thinking.

After thinking a moment the ref said, "No, I can't tee you for what you think." Abe promptly responded that "Well I'm thinking that you are doing a lousy job of calling this game."

Abe got a technical.

gwjack

[E Rocc]

I fail to see how taking photographs at a public event can be restricted by the government.

Try taking pictures of one of the new "professionalized" federal security checkpoints at the airport and watch what happens.

-Eric