The Animal Welfare Institute and the Society for
Animal Protective Legislation have always been committed to
improving the welfare of
animals through non-violent means. As Mahatma Gandhi said,
“[n]on-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.
It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by
the ingenuity of man.” However, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
(AETA) threatens to undermine our ability to promote animal welfare
by criminalizing peaceful methods we have been employing for
decades.If passed by Congress and signed
into law, the AETA would amend the Animal Enterprise Protection Act
(AEPA) of 1992, which currently criminalizes the “physical”
disruption of any animal enterprise resulting in economic damages
exceeding $10,000. The AETA would extend the activities covered by
the AEPA to include those that damage or disrupt an animal
enterprise. These activities could include peaceful
leafleting, demonstrations and media campaigns. If one
participates in such activities and they result in economic
disruption or damage to an animal enterprise – such as a “loss of
profits” – the individual is at risk of being charged as a terrorist
and penalized under the Act. For example, handing out leaflets in
front of a furrier selling coats made with fur obtained through use
of the brutal steel-jaw leghold trap could be an offense under this
proposed bill if the shopkeeper establishes a loss of business. If
you protest a researcher causing unnecessary pain and distress to
animals during experimentation and the researcher loses his or her
funding, you could be prosecuted!
While the AETA contains an exemption for “lawful
economic disruption that results from lawful public, governmental,
or business reaction to the disclosure of information about an
animal enterprise,” this exemption covers only those activities
resulting in economic disruption and not those resulting in economic
damage. Moreover, the exemption does not specify the types of
activities resulting in economic disruption which are exempted and
since it only covers lawful "reaction to the disclosure of
information " it may not include activities such as whistle blowing
and undercover investigations.
Proponents of the AETA claim that this legislation
is necessary to stop the increasing illegal activities of “animal
rights extremists.” However, the AETA contains broad sweeping and
ambiguous language which essentially classifies as “terrorism” many
lawful and constitutionally protected activities directed by animal
welfare advocates against animal enterprises that mistreat and abuse
animals.
Prosecuting advocates who damage or disrupt animal
enterprises by promoting animal welfare through activities which are
peaceful and legal within the confines of existing law will
seriously impede the animal welfare movement.
In late 2005, SAPL, AWI and several
other national animal protection organizations sent a letter to
every Member of Congress outlining our opposition to violence and
commitment to promoting the humane treatment of all animals.
To read the letter please, click
here.
