Confiscated Film

Re “What Rights Are Left After Sept. 11?” by Steve Lopez, Nov. 30: Jason Steinberg’s encounter with the National Guard trooper at LAX is chilling. What might have happened if Steinberg had refused to turn over his film, given that the woman guarding our security was probably armed? And what superior gave her the sense that she had the authority for her action? One can only compare this with stories of the control of tourists in the former Soviet Union, where confiscation of photos and cameras was common. These are the marks of a police state.

John Wright

Los Angeles