Speeding through the agriculture committees of both the Iowa House and Senate is a bill that would make it illegal for animal rights activists to film or photograph and then distribute the images.
The Iowa Agriculture Industry says they are being targeted by zealots who are against industrialized agriculture while animal advocates cry "foul" saying that this is an admission of guilt on the part of "big ag".
The Iowa Bill is a result of secret videos that were released showing cows being shocked, pigs beaten and chicks being ground alive.
So, is this agriculture's way of dealing with the issue? Suggesting that this activity goes on but it's OK until the public learns about it? Will the Iowa Senate now make it a crime to expose a crime?
Ouch...
Legislators say...whoa down. When people see these kind of things going on they should report them through the proper channels and not play the game of "gotcha". Here is the full story from Business Week. And, there is this from the Toronto Star...
We don't need this law. I'm not an animal rights activist...not by a long shot...but I am concerned that passing such legislation controlling and making the filming and distribution illegal makes ag look....bad. Very bad.
At a time when agriculture needs more, not less, friends and at a time when so many people have horrible misconceptions about farming and nearly zero relationships with farmers and ranchers...this bill is ill advised. Bad idea for agriculture, bad idea for farmers and ranchers....this will only fuel the fires of those who already think animal agriculture is evil. And for those who don't, they just might start wondering, "So, what is going on they don't want me to know about?"
What should be done? - Simple, for those who do video or take images of animal cruelity they have 48 hours to make a formal complaint to the authorities. We're not talking a phone call. An actual complaint stating then abuse. If, however they fail to make a report and still make the images public...then there is a case against the person.
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