Tornado Alley (PROG)

[arizona1]

Okay, I signed your petition but I don't hear you screaming about your republican heroes labeling honest whistleblowers as terrorists.

Where's your OUTRAGE???

Model ALEC bill would label those who covertly tape farm cruelty as terrorists.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that a number of states have enacted laws that make it illegal to make undercover video of animal cruelty on farms. Well, a front-page article in today's NYT (below the fold) reveals that--surprise!--ALEC is driving the bus on many of these so-called "ag-gag bills."

Among the ALEC model bills on this topic is the "Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act," or AETA for short. This bill, first drafted and approved by ALEC's board of directors in 2004, would label anyone who tapes farm cruelty as a terrorist. No, this isn't snark--read it for yourself here. (ALEC Exposed got a screenshot as well). This bill would bar anyone from filming or taking pictures on farms if they intend to "defame the facility or its owner." Violators would be placed on a "terrorist registry" for at least three years. In other words--if you videotape an act of animal cruelty, this bill would put you in the same category as tree spikers and other real eco-terrorists.

If there was ever proof of how dangerous ALEC is, this is it.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/07/1199905/-Model-ALEC-bill-would-label-those-who-covertly-tape-farm-cruelty-as-terrorists