THE FOLKS AT ATF NOW CLAIM AUTHORITY TO DECIDE who is an “authorized journalist.” Apparently taking pictures and reporting by non-authorized journalists constitutes “harassment.” Personally, I can’t see any legitimate reason for ATF personnel conducting a routine inspection not to be photographed. What possible problem is there with photographing public employees performing a public duty in a public place? Certainly if ATF agents were photographing ordinary citizens in such a setting, we’d hear that there was “no legitimate expectation of privacy,” right?

UPDATE: Reader Doss Hindman thinks they want to avoid pictures of agents with their hairdos covered in bubblewrap against the rain, like the one with this story. It’s embarrassing, I guess, but hardly a reason for censorship.