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Security guards at a Tulsa County public library called police on journalists who were simply recording inside the building. The incident unfolded after community members contacted the news team about ongoing problems with library staff restricting First Amendment activities.
The Tip That Started Everything
The investigation began when viewers reached out about previous encounters at the library. Two separate community members reported similar harassment from security personnel. The journalists decided to visit the library after conducting other business at the nearby courthouse to document what was happening.
The moment cameras started rolling, security guards immediately confronted the reporting team, demanding they stop filming in the taxpayer-funded building.
When Policy Trumps Constitution
"You can't record here," a security guard declared, citing library "policy" as justification for restricting constitutional activity. When journalists asked to see the specific law requiring permission to film in public spaces, guards could not produce any legal documentation.
The confrontation escalated when guards called police, apparently expecting the journalists to flee before officers arrived. Instead, the reporting team remained to document the response and called their attorney to the scene.
The Search for America's Founding Document
While waiting for police, the journalists decided to look for a copy of the U.S. Constitution in the library's collection. What they found was telling. The shelves contained books about constitutional theory, introductions to constitutional law, and "Constitution for Dummies," but no actual copy of the founding document itself.
"They don't like to give out the Constitution," one journalist observed. "They don't want people to know their rights in a public building."
Police Arrive But Take No Action
When officers finally arrived, they took no enforcement action against the journalists. The security guards appeared deflated when told that filming in public buildings is constitutionally protected activity. Police seemed familiar with the law regarding recording in government facilities.
The journalists left a copy of "The Constitution Explained" with library staff before departing, noting the irony that a public library seemed resistant to providing citizens with their founding legal documents.
What the Full Video Reveals
The complete footage captures the entire confrontation, including conversations with responding officers and the attorney's arrival at the scene. The video shows exactly how library security reacted when their policy claims were challenged with constitutional law.
Watch the full encounter to see how this First Amendment test concluded and what library officials said when confronted with the actual law.
