Photographers — perhaps including some ghosts from Farm Security Administration days — are astir at news of a bill introduced by State Senator Jim Norman of Florida that would make it a felony to take a picture of a farm without the owner’s permission:

A person who photographs, video records or otherwise produces images or pictorial records, digital or otherwise, at or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree.

The bill, S.B. 1246, was introduced on Tuesday. Matthew Yglesias, whose blog brought the matter to our attention, wrote, “The specific freedom-enhancing element of this particular initiative is that apparently freedom-hating animal rights activists have been known to secretly document farm activities in order to advance socialism.”

An e-mail sent to Senator Norman’s office requesting an explanation of the legislation had not been answered by late Tuesday afternoon.