Dangerous tactics

Apparently we no longer have freedom of the press. What has always astounded me working as a journalist in today's society is the lack of understanding Americans at large possess about what it means to have a free press. I don't mean to excuse instrusive journalists or sensationalist reporters who bring the entire profession shame; but banning the press from a public event -- or assuming you have "the right" to do so -- is a dangerous precendent, particularly given the administration we live under and thel liberties they've taken with amendment rights regarding the press that we ALL enjoy. A family should be allowed to grieve. But almost no one chooses to be in the public eye, save for those who put themselves there by running for public office. Once you're thrust into a public event -- however tragically or unwittingly -- you simply lose the same protections under the law that non-public figures have. In fact, there is no such thing as a right to privacy in our country, despite the phantom idea that so many celebrities and newsmakers enjoin. And threatening to sic the law on reporters who show up to a public event, to which they've wrongly been banned? There has to be another way. Hasn't anyone ever heard of a press pool? Or a photography and video ban? There's a reason these things exist.