Agriculture is the largest sector of many states' economies, and lawmakers in Idaho are taking an aggressive step to protect farmers against illegal trespass, clandestine and staged videos and other terrorist acts that have become the stock-in-trade of animal rights groups.
It's a counterattack that is long overdue.
State Senator Jim Patrick (R-Twin Falls), along with five senate and 16 state representative co-sponsors, has introduced Senate Bill 1298, "Interference With Agricultural Production," to make such activities illegal. If passed, violators would be subject to jail, fines and paying restitution to farm owners.
For anyone involved in animal agriculture, the wording of the bill leaves little doubt that the authors believe the tactics used by animal rights groups are based upon intentional misrepresentation and their objective is to intimidate farmers and food retailers and to cause financial harm. A copy of the proposal is available here.
Idaho dairy producers are rallying behind the proposal and say that not only do animal rights groups not care about animal welfare, but their activities often cause animal pain and suffering and they pose a threat to food safety for consumers.
Idaho Dairymen's Association points out that the bill also addresses farmers' right to reasonable privacy in their homes under the First Amendment of the Constitution, since many farm families live on their farms.
