Terrorism is a serious threat to the safety and security of people around the world. There is no denying the fact that there are those who would go to virtually any lengths to cause death and destruction, which has led lawmakers and law enforcement agencies to approach threats to public safety in a very serious manner. That said, there are cases in which the effort to ensure safety infringes on the rights of Georgia residents to live normal lives. An example is found in a University student who may be in need of a criminal defense strategy following a college art project.
The case centers on a suspicious device observed on an Atlanta bridge. The device was constructed from an aluminum Pepsi can covered in duct tape. There were two small steel pipes mounted on the can, and four electrical wires were visible on the top of the unit. The device also had a note attached, which identified the unit as a slow motion camera, and asked observers to please refrain from moving the device. The Atlanta bomb squad was called to the scene, and determined that the device was not a pipe bomb.
At some point it became clear that the device was part of an art project assigned to students at Georgia State. Participants were told to mount the homemade cameras in areas that received a high level of bright sunlight. According to the University, several students selected public locations, although efforts have been made to remove those devices. A statement has been released to suggest that the art student who placed the camera on the bridge could face criminal charges of reckless conduct.
This case has sparked a great deal of debate within the community. While virtually everyone recognizes the importance of ensuring public safety, filing criminal charges against a college student who was simply completing a course assignment is considered by many to be a heavy-handed reaction. Should this Georgia State student be charged with reckless conduct, the criminal defense that follows will likely ask the court to weigh the issue of public safety against the rights of law-abiding citizens.
Source: photographyisnotacrime.com, “University Student Facing Criminal Charges for Attaching Pinhole Camera to Bridge for Art Project“, Carlos Miller, Feb. 4, 2015
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