By Carlos Miller
Fear of terrorism has prompted one California politician to call for the blurring of government buildings, schools, hospitals and churches that are pictured on certain internet mapping sites.
Assemblyman Joel Anderson, a San Diego-area Republican, said he decided to introduce his bill after reading that terrorists who plotted attacks in Israel and India used popular services such as Google Earth and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth.
But even if the law went into effect, it would be nearly impossible to enforce because many of these buildings are already posted on the internet, including on their own websites.
But common sense has never prevented lawmakers from introducing dumb laws regarding photography.
Popularity: 1% [?]
8 responses so far ↓
1 Rick // Mar 4, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Good thinking!…. Or not. It’s not as if the addresses for these buildings will suddenly not exist. Additionally blurring them out would only seem to highlight them in contrast to the surrounding areas.
Personally I think these paranoid lawmakers need to grow a sack.
2 genewitch // Mar 4, 2009 at 5:46 PM
terrorism is just a get out of work free card/buzzword to some politicians. if passed, google would simply say ‘you pay for it, or the answer is no.’
3 Duane Kerzic // Mar 4, 2009 at 5:53 PM
We had the same thing get proposed in NJ. It didn’t even come up for a vote. Some politician is going to have this bright idea ever couple of years.
4 Rob // Mar 4, 2009 at 10:40 PM
It frustrates me to no end when so-called conservative Republicans come up with frivolous legislation.
5 Simon Jester // Mar 4, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Who ever said sense was common?
6 Andrew DeFilippis // Mar 5, 2009 at 1:12 AM
This is definitely ridiculous. I hear that California is the land of fruits, nuts and flakes, but seriously….
People need to get off this hype of “cameras promote terrorism”. If someone wanted to destroy a building, all they have to do is look up an address and… omg… they know where it is!!!
If we let this continue, pretty soon, sketching a building or painting an image of one for that matter, will be illegal.
7 ALL BE DAMNED // Apr 17, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Ill just put it this way
Terrorism ” the act of making some one scared and /or Putting someone or group of people in to a Feared frenzy ” So i realy think we lost this one if people are still so scared of 9/11 GUESS WHAT FOLKS YOUR LETTING THOSE ASSHOLES WIN
now solution number one Get off your asses go take a few pictures and HAVE a fun day at the park
Solution number two GET off your asses and get on a plane show these basterds we mean buissness
Solution three DONATE TO THE MILITARY they are the ones who will catch these guys
Solution four GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND SHOW THEM THEY CANT SCARE US INTO HIDING IN THE HILLS LIKE RATS
solution number five Tell your government they cant take anything from you cause thats what the damn terrorists are trying to do to you already
8 Voice of Reason // Apr 17, 2009 at 7:03 AM
Note to Andrew DeFilippis: I believe the original wording was “the land of fruits and nuts, and also of good things to eat”. However, this kind of idiocy is hardly limited to California. A quick tour through Mr. Miller’s archives is sufficient to establish that.
Leave a Comment