Editing After The Storm: Second Wave (section)

===Supers and Law===
With the apparently endless variety of superpowers, the legislators have noticed that laws always seem to lag behind them. For example, while mind control is illegal now, and considered Aggravated Mental Abuse, in the beginning the prosecutors were tearing out their hair while trying to figure what they could charge the mind controlling supervillain Abductor with. On the other hand, a law like “Unlawful Use of Superpower” would be both too vague to be useful and potentially open to abuse at the same time.

So there are laws like “Arrest by Super Marshal”, “Search by Super Marshal” and various other “by Super Marshal” laws. Basically, Supers have a lot of leeway in dealing with supercrime. They need to have, considering how dangerous some Supers can be. Obviously, this system is open to abuse too, so every case gets reviewed, and kicking in a wrong door will result in disciplinary action. It has happened that a Super too rash to act has been kicked out of The Protectors, although not among The Protectors of New York.

Of particular note is the Unmasking Law. Outing a Super is a federal crime, and Countersupers protect the identities of their Supers with a vehemence. This law applies to supervillains too. First of all, if it did not, the powerful supervillain team Coven would have been really riled up, and no one wanted to open that can of trouble. Secondly, if it did not, it would make rehabilitation really hard. Some arrested supervillains have gone straight after being released. Some have even switched sides and joined The Protectors. Both would have been less likely had they been outed. So in a court of law, you might see a supervillain stand trial in his Super identity, while a superhero gives testimony in her own Super identity.

Even if there was no law against it, unmasking a Super would be something that gets them all coming after you, both heroes and villains. And all their fans too. Even the dumbest thug or the most desperate paparazzi would not do that. Especially after the [[After_The_Storm:_Second_Wave_SharkTank|Shark Tank Incident]].