ALL BLOGGERS ON DECK! CALL THE HOUSE. Oppose the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
Update: The AETA was approved Monday, 13 November 2006, by the House of Representatives. This is an affront to key First Amendment principles, as AETA’s language is highly amenable to characterizing non-violent civil disobedience as terrorism. We’ll have more on this in the days ahead, but for now, we note that veganism as direct action is your perfect investment. As vegans, we have real power that no authority can take away and we intend to use it.
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The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (H.R. 4239) vote in the House of Representatives is just hours away — Monday 13 November. Industry groups expect it to get a Congressional rubber-stamping.
The bill sets out to label a wide range of advocacy “terrorism” for damaging or disrupting an animal-use enterprise or connected businesses. Although it exempts “lawful economic disruption that results from lawful public, governmental, or business reaction to the disclosure of information” about an enterprise, it could make nonviolent acts of civil disobedience into “terrorism” where they substantially affect corporate profits. An effective campaign using mailings and demonstrations against an animal circus, for example, could be called terrorism under the Act because it disrupted the enterprise.
The bill also aims to place “force, violence and threats involving animal enterprises” inside another federal law — one that authorizes “interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications.”
Charged advocates could face long jail terms, or at a minimum be forced to spend substantial time and resources arguing that the action was constitutionally protected expression. Win or lose, those so charged would have to live with the stigma of being associated, however fallaciously, with terrorism. Other advocates might deliberately weaken or avoid what would otherwise be effective campaigns, so as to not suffer the same fate as people unfairly targeted under such a law. That is what’s known as the “chilling effect” on First Amendment rights.
The bill is redundant, as federal laws already provide penalties for violent activities targeting animal enterprises. If it becomes law, its ill-defined terms will vex potential whistleblowers, investigative journalists, and capable advocates.
Energetically oppose this bill which is expected to come up Monday. Again, that’s Monday, the 13th of November. Any U.S. resident is urged to find your representative in Congress at this site. Ring them up at 202.224.3121, and tell them you strongly oppose the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and you expect them to do the same.
Thank you,
Lee Hall, legal director, Friends of Animals.
For in-depth analysis, we invite you to see “The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act May Soon Be Law - How Could This Happen?” by Lee Hall, published by Dissident Voice.
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7 Comments
On November 13, 2006, chloe wrote:
I think animal cruelty is disgusting. and thats why i am happy to hear that your doing some think about it.Im 10 and i go on here daily.
On November 13, 2006, Nicole Perry wrote:
I made my voice heard! I called, e-mailed and faxed my representative (Jim Moran- VA) today.
On November 13, 2006, Jason Schoen wrote:
When I called my representative (Jim Moran - VA) I received the surprising news that Moran is opposed to the bill. So if anyone hasn’t contacted their representative yet - please do! Your opinion might count more than you know.
On November 13, 2006, Joan Cameron wrote:
My representative, Major Owens [D-NY-11th] plans to vote in opposition to the AETA. Per his office, they have received “tons of contacts” urging him to do just that.
Not surprisingly, it should also be noted that the AKC is in support of the AETA. See http://www.akc.org/news/
On November 15, 2006, Toni Medford wrote:
I just phoned our rep’s (Cliff Stearns) Washington offices and was told this bill was a “Voice Vote” so he doesn’t have any stats on the full vote yet, but he personally voted NAY. Finally, Mr. Stearns, you are getting it. He normally votes for anything and everything that could erode our civil liberties.
[Blog editors’ note: Two-thirds of those voting responded in the affirmative, the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed. See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/R?r109:FLD001:H58591 and follow bright links for transcript pages.]
On November 16, 2006, Barb Brandt wrote:
I recently worked in a nursing home, in recreation; It was such a privilege to work there. But every day was a battle with administrators, nurses, and aides that had no time, compassion, empathy for lonely, elderly people. So, to find corporations exploiting animals and having no compassion for their daily ordeal is a tragedy for not only that animal, but reveals who we really are and what we think is valuable.
Where I live, it is even difficult to get help for a dog that has to live outside in the winter. Laws help but how do we change people?
On December 8, 2006, AnImAlLuVeR wrote:
I am working against animal cruelty and have been since I was little. I am proud of your efforts. Keep it up!