Man taking pictures of clouds questioned by FBI

Martha R. · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:45 am **Posts:** 2924

http://rt.com/usa/news/texas-man-fbi-galindo-949/

Wow, it's hard to believe our country has come to reporting people to authorities like this. Big Brother is watching.

CindyLouWho · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 5:54 pm **Posts:** 664

Hmmmm, I wonder how much taxpayer money was wasted on this investigation.
Next thing you know, they'll have cameras in the commodes at public restrooms in each stall.

Sis · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:22 pm **Posts:** 8837

Well........... really, there is room to question here. People with cameras around places that could be used by terrorists are suspicious. I've been stopped from taking pics in certain places that, without my thinking about it, could be used by terrorists. I find it interesting that they tracked him down to his house, tho'. How'd they do that?! How did they know it was him? And yes, they may very well keep watching him for awhile!

Reminds me of when the police showed up at my friend's parents house looking for us shortly after we arrived! Thankfully we were across the state line or she may've lost her son to the authorities that night! But even that's not as "interesting" as the FBI tracking a picture taker to his home. Hmmmm.

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Also what does it say about you out there?

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Pam in Colorado · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 2:58 pm **Posts:** 1095

I totally understand a need for awareness for the risk of terrorists, but this seems a bit much. You would think the conditions were pretty clear what he was doing in the area. If they know so much about us, they would have already been able to find out that he does this for a purpose with an organization that they could have checked out as well.

LindaS · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:15 pm

I can see the FBI's point. It was taking photos near a refinery. People can plant bombs etc. Know if anyone is there or not . If there is security even around an abandoned refinery. To me just show them your photos and go on.

LisaTX · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:24 pm

After all the training we received in the military about reporting people taking photos around the base and other suspicious activity, this makes sense to me. They were doing their job.

Anna1111 · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm **Posts:** 8115

It makes sense to me, too.

Most places like refineries have signs up saying photography is illegal - for security purposes. Add to that the fact the man was out taking pictures under cover of darkness - in the middle of a storm - it would definitely look suspicious to someone living nearby. (They probably used the old fashioned license plate method to find him)

My grandfather was the neighborhood person in charge of domestic security during WWII (too old to go to combat) - and facilities like these were most heavily guarded by civilians/neighborhood watch - including the entire rail-line of the nation. They did this even tho there was no real domestic attack here on CONUS.

During a time of terrorist threat, when we have had domestic attacks, it makes sense to be equally secure about such facilities.

Martha R. · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:45 am **Posts:** 2924

Any place could be a potential to be a terrorist attack. So does that mean that taking a picture anywhere should be suspicious? Just how faraway from any potential site is far enough away? I think we have been desensitized about our rights. When you are taking pictures of the clouds, you should not have to scope out the landscape to make sure there is nothing within site that might get you in trouble. We have little freedom left...

Anna1111 · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm **Posts:** 8115

Usually parts of the infrastructure are more carefully guarded. Airports, refineries, water purification, electric plants - things that would cripple an entire area if they were downed. Terrorist attacks can sometimes involve only a few individuals, but when an enemy can disable an entire region in one blow, that is a serious matter. Photography has been forbidden around these types of installations since I was a teenager - if not longer (that's when I first became aware of such things).

We live near a winery. We went for a tour a while back when my brother was visiting, as my niece had a special interest. To our surprise, we were told that the Dep t of Hom lan* S*cur*ty forbids tours - and has for about 10 years now. It is simply to easy to place a small b*mb on a large fermenting vat and create catastrophe in the entire area.

Martha R. · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:45 am **Posts:** 2924

That's ridiculous, Anna.

Doesn't anyone see how our freedoms have been eroded under the guise of "protecting" us? Is there any other country in the world where you have to take your shoes off to get on a plane? We are going to wake up one day and realize that we aren't allowed to do much of anything because it's "not safe enough."

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