A bill introduced by Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, hopes to make the act of photographing a farm, or any part of a farm, a first-degree felony without first receiving written permission from the farm owner(s). 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." A first-degree felony on the other hand is one that is punishable by 30 years in jail. The only sentences that cannot be meted out by a judge are life in prison or death, if found guilty.
To put this in perspective -
Rape is a second-degree felony as is Slavery or Third-degree murder.
Said Wilton Simpson, a farmer in Norman's district, the bill is needed to protect "intellectual property" relating to farming. WOW - that must be some kind of "intellectual" property.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Judy Dalglish, the executive director, had this to say - the bill "...is just flat out unconstitutional not to mention stupid." Sharky&Sharky aren't sure about the stupid part, but the Constitution is long gone.
©Sharky&Sharky
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