If a Federal Press/Media Shield Law were approved in its current form the following may apply or happen:

●  News Media individuals could acquire information by illegal means and use the information against
    virtually anyone they wish without having to reveal how the information was acquired.
●  A Federal Shield Law in itself could be considered unconstitutional if a law were broken during the
    process as to the way in which News Media employees or their sources acquired the information if by
    either the placement of and/or the use of illegal electronic eavesdropping equipment, and/or by using other
    forms of espionage that compromise private confidential information without first obtaining permission from
    the proper authorities and/or from the victim in advance.
●  States and the Federal government could be held accountable and ultimately suffer loses in the billions
    of dollars stemming from lawsuits in which shield laws encourage illegal activities.
●  A victimized defendant would not be able to prove a law was broken or be able to prove the validity
    of a claim if the source is not required to be revealed or to be held accountable for violating one's right-to-privacy.
●  Actual malice may no longer have to be proven by public figures to collect in libel cases.‡
●  A new bureaucracy may be created to determine who qualifies as a journalist and if they will be allowed
    to spy, thereby requiring background checks, training, fingerprints, tests and licenses. This new bureaucracy
    may possibly parse the First Amendment to enforce media correctness and control who can have access to
    news events where licenses may be required.‡
●  A backlash may occur from public reactions over the News Media having an unfair advantage in protecting
    criminals and invading peoples privacy.‡

‡Research material provided in part by: Centre Daily Times. Posted on the Internet Tuesday, August 9, 2005,
titled: FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, Shield law would make media vulnerable to being legislated.