Exposing Animal Abuse Now Unlawful

Posted by | March 27, 2015 14:00 | Filed under: Contributors Mark Quincy Adams News Behaving Badly Politics Top Stories

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Animal rights activists are fighting new laws which make it a crime to document and report on animal cruelty. It all started a couple years back in Idaho.

An undercover video taped in 2012 showed Idaho dairy workers beating cows, prompting criminal convictions. State lawmakers responded — by banning undercover videos.

Activists citing the right to free speech want the Idaho law struck down, and a federal judge may rule on the case next month. The challenge is part of the pushback against rules in at least seven states, known to their opponents as “ag-gag laws,” that prohibit documenting conditions on animal farms. At the same time, lawmakers proposed new bills limiting documentation of farm conditions in five more states this year.

Conservative lawmakers are pushing these new restrictions with the strong support and the close oversight of the industries involved. They are not hesitant to use over-the-top arguments to make their case.

The Idaho law was drafted by a lawyer for the state’s dairy association. It made it a crime to interfere with agricultural production by gaining employment under false pretenses and making audio or video recordings without permission. The law took effect immediately after Republican Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed it on Feb. 28, 2014.

“Terrorism has been used for centuries to destroy the ability to produce food and the confidence in food’s safety,” Jim Patrick, a Republican state senator who sponsored the bill, said of the legislation at the time. “This is how you combat your enemies.”

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Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Mark Quincy Adams

A proud 'pragmatic progressive' Mark Quincy Adams has been a political
talk show host and prolific pontificator since 1992. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @politicalglutton

12 responses to Exposing Animal Abuse Now Unlawful

  1. eyelashviper March 27th, 2015 at 14:22

    More “freedumbs” that the wretched abusers are crying for…their rights to torture innocent and helpless animals. Just friggin’ outrageous.

  2. rg9rts March 27th, 2015 at 14:50

    Probably have the dog fighting ring in the back of the barn

  3. Kim Connell March 27th, 2015 at 15:02

    Not for long I’m betting.

  4. Carla Akins March 27th, 2015 at 17:06

    Did I miss the memo on backwards day?

  5. Suzanne McFly March 27th, 2015 at 17:10

    We are protecting people who abuse animals now? What person with any morals supports this idea?

  6. katkelly57 March 27th, 2015 at 18:39

    Sickening….period.

  7. jybarz March 27th, 2015 at 20:28

    Well, if Repukes don’t like human rights, why would they care about animal rights? It’s wrong to call them right wingers, they should be called wrong wingers or evil wingers, which would be more appropriate.

  8. Pa Guy in NJ March 27th, 2015 at 21:43

    It makes me mad when I see this stuff. The milk would probably be better if they are treated right. As for meat-if they are stressed the meat is probably flooded with adrenaline, a clean kill of a happy animal is best.

    • fahvel March 28th, 2015 at 05:31

      and killing a happy animal makes your burger taste better?

  9. fahvel March 28th, 2015 at 05:30

    eat the beef and you support the entire industry!!!!!

  10. craig7120 March 28th, 2015 at 09:10

    Crazy legislation
    We know better, making as much money as possible is all that matters for some in the animal food industry.
    When I fall off the vegan wagon and get tempted I use theses stories to get my mind right, oh and remind myself of the 2 stints in my heart.

  11. lafrique March 28th, 2015 at 23:04

    Animals still have more rights and are better treated than prisoners in the privatized prison system.

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