Missouri bill would criminalize undercover videos at farms

[proud2BlibKansan]

JEFFERSON CITY | The Missouri House has endorsed legislation seeking to make it a crime for undercover activists to produce videos portraying poor conditions at agricultural facilities.

The legislation given first-round approval Tuesday would create the crime of "agriculture production facility interference." The crime would apply to people who produce or distribute photos, videos or audio recordings of the activities at an agricultural facility without the consent of the owner.

The bill also would make it a crime for people to gain employment or access at agricultural facilities under false pretenses.

Supporters said the measure is needed to stop undercover activists who produce propaganda against agriculture, particularly where livestock are being raised or slaughtered.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/17/3560302/missouri-bill-would-criminalize.html#storylink=cpy

[lonestarnot]

1. How the fuck can a bill like that pass muster?

What about criminal investigations?

[PDJane]

2. So, cruelty is fine, but filming cruelty isn't.

That makes perfect sense.

[Odin2005]

3. This shit makes me wish I could give up meat.

I've tried several times but I crave it too much.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Every vegetarian and vegan I know just eats all day long

They graze. I can't do that and keep my job.

[Odin2005]

7. I'm a grazer myself.

I've read that there is a connection between a person's fat distribution, sugar metablism, and eating habits. "Pear-shaped" people like myself tend toward low blood sugar and a tendency to graze while "apple-shaped" tend towards having a few big meals and are at risk for diabetes. Pear-people do well on low-fat diets while Apple-deaple do well on low-carb diets.

[alp227]

4. It's Missouri, so there must be an ag lobby

In some cases, those videos have helped prosecute farm animal abusers. That must be why the lobbyists are shaking in their boots! Also, while freepers also mostly find factory farming and this knd of animal abuse sickening, FR doesn't lack a shortage of sickos who make jokes from the abuse. For example http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387472/posts

some football jokes in a story about pig abuse

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. Completely unconstitutional

ACLU will take it to the Supreme Court. Ludicrous.

[highplainsdem]

8. That's another ALEC bill. Similar bills have been passed in other states. Link to an earlier DU

topic about them:

Will Potter: What Is Big Ag Trying to Hide? (ALEC bills criminalizing anyone who exposes wrongdoing)

That was posted not quite a year ago, and links to my compilation topic on ALEC

ALEC: Bringing the vast rightwing corporate conspiracy to a legislature near you

where some of the replies link to topics and articles about these bills in other states.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Wow, dead giveaway

The powerful agriculture industry is flexing it's muscles.

They couldn't have anything to hide, could they?

[Art_from_Ark]

10. I think this explains a lot:

"Missouri is home to more than 2,000 agricultural businesses. Monsanto
Chemical Company and Ralston Purina are just two examples of such busi-
nesses serving farmers worldwide. In addition to Monsanto’s agricultural
chemicals and Ralston’s animal feeds, the companies supply seeds, feed,
grain storage and a variety of other products and services.
Some of the nation’s largest farm cooperatives are headquartered
in Missouri. Farmland Industries, Inc., the United States’ largest farm
cooperative, and Dairy Farmers of America, the nation’s largest dairy
cooperative, are both based in Kansas City."

http://www.mobio.org/docs/pdfs/MoAgQuickFacts.pdf

[Javaman]

11. Pilgrims Pride's lobbyists are working overtime. nt