Editing SP Current Events (section)

===In the US===

The U.S. Government has taken the line that the Arches represent a possible threat to the health of U.S. Citizens, and that it is, therefore, the duty of the Government to quarantine both the Arches and those who have passed through, until the long term effects are better understood.

The official designation for those who have passed through the Arches is ATP - Arch Transformed Person. Mainstream and Social Media have, however, christened them 'Archies'.

Archie Comics Publishing is not happy with that, but their Trademark doesn't cover the use, so they've grudgingly stopped trying to change the usage.

Lower courts have reviewed cases of private property being taken by the Government. Depending largely upon the locale, they have ruled inconsistently. Some have ruled in the favor of the property owners, others in favor of the Government.

Most of those who have ruled in favor of the property owners have stayed their decisions pending a decision by the Supreme Court. One or two locations - mostly in the Pacific Northwest - have not, so there are two or three Arches that are known to be in private hands, but even there, they're in the hands of Universities who are studying them.

As for the Archies, the courts have been far more consistent. They cannot be held by the Government solely on the basis of their Transformed status. The Government is working on figuring out how to hold those Transformed who have gained 'Super powers', and has pointed out very firmly that most locations in the U.S. have anti-vigilante laws.

This has not stopped those with the heroic mindset. Nor have they usually been charged under those laws. Rather, the local forces tend to view them somewhat like they view their unpowered predecessors. Sometimes helpful, sometimes annoying, but generally not worth the bother.

As some Archies have turned to crime, of course, the help of Archies interested in enforcing the law has been sought, but the preference has been for them to join the police force, rather than operating on their own. Still, few local police districts will turn down help, as long as those helping hew as closely as possible to the law.

To wit: No lethal force, except in direct response to lethal force - i.e., self defense or defense of others. Any evidence gained must obey the rule of law - no fruit from the poison tree. In addition, while the Good Samaritan laws will, to a point, protect individuals from liability for damage to property or person in the course of saving lives, most local PD look askance at 'heroes' who do more damage than the criminals they're fighting.

The Federal Government treats Archies who aren't members of a Federal force as nuisances, at best. Interfering with a Federal crime scene is not recommended.

There are, of course, several people and organizations who have opinions about Archies, and the Media tend to view them as celebrities (minor or major depending on how photogenic they are).

There have already been photoshoots in FHM, Maxim, Playboy and their counterparts, as well as the more adult rated magazines and web sites of publicity seeking Archies, and no less than three Reality shows have formed around them.