Domestic Terrorism an Excuse to Protect Big Business from Consumer Protest

...to prevent congress/bush from criminalizing peaceful protests about
animal abuse
U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act; Please
Call House Members Now To Oppose This Bill

Sen. Finegold and Kohl - nobody's senators but big business's - period.

These bills may stop many forms of legitimate protest against the mistreatment of animals.

The bills will amend 18 U.S.C. §43, which bans Animal Enterprise Terrorism. The new bills will make it illegal for anyone to rely on the mails or interstate or foreign commerce or conspire to cause economic damage, meaning loss of business or profits to an animal enterprise such as manufacturers, distributors and sellers of animals or animal products; research facilities that use animals as subjects for experiments, pet stores, breeders, zoos, rodeos, circuses, and the like. It will be illegal under these bills to rely on “threats, ... harassment or intimidation" if it causes economic damage. There is no exemption indicating "economic damage" does not include lawful damage resulting from public, governmental or business reaction to the disclosure of information about the treatment of an animal.

There is already a law that punishes physical destruction and personal injury as a result of animal protests. These bills will shut down what should be legitimate forms of protest. For more on the effect of these bills on protest about the mistreatment of animals, read Animal Law Coalition's earlier report below.

The penalties are severe. Depending on the severity of the economic damage, violators face fines, restitution, and prison sentences up to 10 years.

Update September 30, 2006 Congress has not yet taken up H.R. 4239 and S. 3880, bills that will define as terrorism any animal protests deemed intimidating or threatening and which cause loss of business or profits to research facilities, manufacturers, distributors and sellers of animals or animal products, breeders, pet stores, zoos, circuses, and rodeos.

The bills could be taken up at any time.

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ANIMAL LAW COALITION
U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act; Please
Call House Members Now To Oppose This Bill
September 29, 2006 : 12:00 AM