Wally World chutzpah

Of all the unmitigated gall (or, more evidence that Wal-Mart thinks it rules the world).

From the Hagerstown (Md.) Herald-Mail (pointer courtesy Romenesko):

• Newspaper employee and freelance photog sees naked guy running toward Wal-Mart at mall
• Takes pictures
• Man identifying himself as Wal-Mart security guard demands camera.

The photog instead locked it in his car. But he says store officials threatened to have him arrested for trespassing and ban him from the store. This, even though the naked runner was in plain sight outside, not inside, the store.

But there's even more folks!

Check out this absolute balderdash when a Wally World spokeswoman was asked if a journalist, hypothetically, of course, could take pictures of a fire at a W-M:

Wal-Mart's policy that all photos taken on its property must be approved in advance includes breaking news coverage, company spokeswoman Christi Gallagher said.

The company requires the media - or anyone else - to get approval before taking pictures in Wal-Mart stores or on Wal-Mart property, she said.

Asked if journalists photographing unexpected news, such as a fire, need the same permission, Gallagher said they do.

After hours, a journalist should call the company's 24-hour corporate hotline before taking pictures, she said.

Pardon me while I ask my mother's permission, too.