Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumCJR - Ag-Gag Laws Now In 15 States; So Broad They Could Block Most Investigative Journalism
FAIRWAY, KS On Feb. 8, Amy Meyer, a 25-year-old activist, recorded cell-phone video of activities at a slaughterhouse in a Salt Lake City suburb. Eleven days later she was informed, much to her surprise, that she was being prosecuted for a Class B misdemeanor under a new Utah state law prohibiting agricultural operation interferencean offense that could mean up to six months in jail.
Meyer was the first person in the country to face prosecution under the so-called ag-gag laws, which are designed to limit the ability of animal-rights groups to interfere withor even investigateagricultural facilities. After the case attracted media attention, the charge against her was quickly dropped.
But Meyers case is part of an aggressive legal push that raises alarm bells across the country, for activists and journalists alike. Ag-gag legislation has now been enacted in sevensix states and introduced in at least 15 more. Many of the laws, passed at the behest of agribusiness groups, are based on model legislation drafted by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and they target what the group calls animal and ecological terrorists. But most if not all of the bills are broad enough that investigative reporters could also find themselves bound and gagged.
Even if the target of the legislation is not the press, it may impact the ability of the media to serve in its watchdog role, said Stephen Key, executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association, which has lobbied against proposed ag-gag legislation in Indiana.
EDIT
http://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/state_legislatures_are_pushing_ag-gag_bills_and_news_associations_are_fighting_back.php
newfie11
(8,159 posts)Those in government can lie to us on TV, NSA can lie to Congress.
We can kill innocent women and children and think nothing about it.
Money rules all and apparently destroys empathy for anyone or any creature.
When we cannot make sure animals are cared for and killed as humainly as possible we have become truly evil.
wtmusic
(39,166 posts)Revealing proprietary company information vs documenting illegal practices should not be too fine a distinction to make
CRH
(1,553 posts)They can record and read your data, but you can't record and report their data. The state of the State, is 1984.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)a challenge to this, do you think?
newfie11
(8,159 posts)Excluding the few honest ones.
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)stuntcat
(12,022 posts)Online I searched out a few fruity, pansy-ass, begging-to-be-mocked animal lovers. About .5% of people mind the torture and death that goes on.
But "meat" "producers" are really not in any danger.