Photo by GODa

They do things differently in Texas, but in terms of photographers’ rights, they’re right in line with most states … in squashing them. Galveston County Daily News photographer Kevin M. Cox was taking photos of an oil leak at the Marathon Oil Co. when he was detained by police who questioned him for 45 minutes and asked to see his photos.

In an article in the Daily News, Cpl. Tom Robison defended the Texas City Police Department’s actions, saying it is policy to stop anyone photographing chemical plants so that police can assess what threat, if any, the photos pose to national security. Yes … but: What security risk could a photo possibly present when everything in it is visible to the naked eye from the street? (Cox’s vantage point.)

Robison said it’s not their policy to confiscate photos and they usually work nicely with the press. But they do detain news photographers — documenting news events — for 45 minutes. Go figure.

It’s that pesky constitution thing again. For all those Texans who are staunch defenders of the 2nd amendment that enables them to bear arms, well, they have to respect the 1st too.

Article via The Galveston County Daily News.