Buffalo Area State Senators Co-Sponsor Bill Punishing Activists as Terrorists
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Due to the bill's wording it would even deter legislators from introducing bills that protect our environment and animals in fear that they would be labeled "terrorists." In essence it defines individuals,organizations and investigative reporters who speak out to legislators for the decent treatment of animals and advocate for a healthy environment as "terrorists" too.
Co-sponsors include Buffalo area State Senators Mary Lou
Rath, Dale Volker and George Maziarz...
Please Contact Immediately:
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOSEPH BRUNO
NYS SENATE
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
ALBANY, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-3191
Fax: (518) 455-2448
Email: bruno@senate.state.ny.us
and
KENNETH RIDDETT
Counsel to Majority Leader Bruno
NYS Senate
Room 335, State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2675
Fax: (518) 426-6830
You can also email or fax Majority Leader Bruno, with a
copy sent to your own State Senator, by visiting our web site at:
http://action.fund.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=5017
You may use the following as a guide:
1. Ask Majority Leader Bruno to use his leadership
position to DEFEAT Bill S2996 (Kuhl). Ask him to take the bill
OFF the Senate calendar immediately! State that the bill chokes and
strangles free speech and is UN-AMERICAN!
2. The bill masquerades as protection against property
damage and other crimes against animal use facilities and animal use
activities. However, our law already provides penalties for criminal
conduct for trespass, assault, property destruction, etc. This bill is
unnecessary.
The true purpose of the bill is to halt criticism by
millions of Americans regarding animal abuse and an unhealthy
environment.
Due to the bill's wording it would even deter legislators
from introducing bills that protect our environment and
animals in fear that they would be labeled "terrorists." In
essence it defines individuals,
organizations and investigative reporters who speak out to
legislators for the decent treatment of animals and advocate for a
healthy environment as "terrorists" too.
Add that the Sierra Club is strongly opposed to this bill too.
3. Important -- Leave your name and address and ask for a
response regarding what actions Leader Bruno will take with this
horrific bill.
Background:
The bill defines as animal or ecological terrorist
organizations, two people or more who support any politically motivated
activity to deter those who own an animal facility, or participate in
trapping,
hunting, mining, foresting, harvesting, gathering or processing
of natural resources, through intimidation, fear, or "other
means."
This translates into criminalizing those people who object
verbally and in a lawful fashion to abusive practices in these areas.
The bill also in effect designates as terrorists, investigative
journalists, whistle blowers and individuals who seek to document
animal cruelty. It prohibits a reporter from legally entering an animal
facility to take photographs or make a video recording if the recording
is critical of the facility.
It creates a state-run website displaying the photograph, name and
address of the maligned as "animal and ecological terrorist," thus
categorizing people who work for the defense of animals in the same
type of category as child molesters and sex offenders.
The bill parades as a necessary legal addition to NYS law.
However, our current body of law already contains provisions for
criminal conduct including destruction of property.
Bill S2996 (Kuhl) makes a mockery of the horrific tragedy
of terrorist attacks on our nation by falsely linking terrorism with
the millions of Americans who urge that animals be treated humanely.
The bill is a shameful document in its characterization of animal
advocates and environmentalists as deviants and criminals and its goal
of eliminating both animal abuse investigations and criticism
of people and facilities which abuse animals. In doing so it also
eliminates New Yorkers' basic rights and ultimately denies the
public representation by their own legislators.
For a copy of the legislation, please visit the state web site at http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/frmload.cgi?MENU-43392645
and then type "S2996" into the search box.
