None of those lynchings were legal, even back then. It was simply a matter of the government being in collusion with the violent racists and ignoring the actual letter of the law.And if you believe that video cameras are stronger than guns, you're just kidding yourself. Put yourself in the perspective of the victim. Cop beats him up, takes away the camera and smashes it. Replace the camera with a gun, and you have a victim, a dead cop and probably no witnesses to contradict his story that it was self-defense.Lastly, if the cop sees you recording his behavior, you sure as ***** better be able to get away or be willing to beat the tar out of him to keep him from getting you and your evidence. Oh and under our current system, the latter will result in the following charges unless the media so thoroughly embarasses the system that it just wants to brush it under the rug:1) Obstruction of justice.2) Felony assault and battery.3) Assault on a police officer.4) Resisting arrest.In other words, they can screw you up so bad you'll not sit down comfortably for 5-10 years at least.... even though violently resisting arrest to keep the evidence safe should be considered an act of civic virtue, not criminality.