Well you can't say you've seen that from me, for one, and I can't agree that the number of FReepers who think the police can do no wrong has grown more than a small amount. The JBT types have been with us all along. This story just doesn't work as a "my god, it's a police state" story. I'm also not one to think that "everything's changed since 9/11". Horse puckey to that! The world has always been unstable and dangerous. However this story begs the question, if three ME types are seen photographing a resevoir or a nuclear power plant and a policeman stops them and asks them what they are doing do they have the right to say "Nunya bidness. See ya!"?
If these types are citizens, why not?
What's to stop me from wandering around town with a camcorder? Do I deserve to be grilled for an hour and a half because I happen to be carrying a camera or take a picture of something I helped pay for on a street in my town?
If you haven't committed a crime, then you deserve to be left alone. What's next, "thought crimes" ?
"Well, he looked like he was thinking about that box in a malicious fashion."
This is nuts.