Today, in a
victory for farmed animals in North Carolina and nationwide, North Carolina governor
Pat McCrory vetoed the controversial “Ag-Gag Bill, designed to punish
whistleblowers who document and expose criminal activity at North Carolina’s
factory farms and slaughterhouses.
The ag-gag bill was
opposed by the overwhelming majority of North Carolina residents, as well as
animal protection, food safety, environmental, and civil liberties groups
nationwide, because it would have perpetuated animal abuse and endangered
workers’ rights, consumer health and safety, and the freedom of journalists,
employees, and the public at large to share information about something as
fundamental as our food supply.
The North
Carolina legislature should stop wasting time and taxpayer money by repeatedly
introducing unconstitutional bills that would sweep evidence of criminal
activity under the rug. Instead, the legislature should focus on strengthening
the state’s animal cruelty laws and providing greater incentives for
whistleblowers.
Numerous Mercy
For Animals undercover investigations in North Carolina have revealed that
horrific animal cruelty and neglect run rampant at some of the state’s largest
factory farms, hatcheries, and slaughterhouses. A 2011 MFA investigation at a
factory farm operated by Butterball—the world’s largest turkey producer—led to
a two-day raid of the facility by law enforcement and the criminal convictions
of five Butterball workers, including the first-ever felony conviction for
cruelty to factory-farmed poultry in U.S. history. This and other
investigations would not have been possible if the ag-gag bill had been in
place.
You can watch
that video here:
MFA urges North
Carolina lawmakers to listen to the will of the people and strengthen laws
protecting animals and citizens, not corrupt corporations that engage in
illegal abuses.
For more
information, please visit NoAgGag.com.