Victory! Governor McCrory Vetoes North Carolina Ag-Gag Bill

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.