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National Archives at College Park, MD, will become a restricted federal facility

(www.archives.gov)
299 points LastTrain | 3 comments | 24 Jun 25 21:18 UTC | HN request time: 1.412s | source
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IvyMike ◴[24 Jun 25 22:35 UTC] No.44371761[source]▶
From the site:

> All researchers must apply and present a researcher card, which may be obtained in Room 1000. This ensures that proper identification is on file for all individuals accessing the building to establish a legitimate business purpose. Abuse of any researcher registration to circumvent access by the general public may result in a trespass situation and a permanent ban from access to all NARA facilities.

What the hell does "legitimate business purpose" mean? What "business" need is there for JFK Assassination records (which I think are at this site), for example? If I'm getting a PHD or writing a book, is that a "business" need? I suspect not.

Also, "Abuse of any researcher registration to circumvent access by the general public may result in a trespass situation and a permanent ban from access to all NARA facilities" seems like a very poorly constructed sentence.

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1. jonstewart ◴[25 Jun 25 00:03 UTC] No.44372360[source]▶
It means if you are a crazy person, you can no longer waltz in off your motorcycle and demand all documents related to alien spacecraft held at Area 51 or the real unedited Zapruder film that clearly shows Walt Disney was the triggerman, etc.

My guess is anyone could still pursue whatever crazy theories they wanted, so long as they conducted their research legitimately, i.e., as a legitimate _process_ of research, with no value judgment on the topic or end goal.

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2. mandelbrotwurst ◴[25 Jun 25 01:01 UTC] No.44372708[source]▶
How do you estimate they will judge process legitimacy?
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3. hotep99 ◴[25 Jun 25 05:22 UTC] No.44373870[source]▶
Probably by if you're cooperative and lucid enough to file the papers ahead of time and schedule your visit.