Should The Eyes Of Officials Be Turned From Feather Carriers To AR Fanatics?
 
 
Officials eyeing poultry disease
From staff reports

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - State agriculture officials are asking Missouri pet owners and dealers and poultry producers to avoid bringing live birds from Texas and New Mexico into the state.

The notice last week follows a warning issued in February to not bring in birds from California and Texas, the other states known to have Exotic Newcastle Disease.

The latest outbreak was in a backyard flock of chickens in El Paso, Texas.

Missouri State Veterinarian Taylor Woods said the disease is on the move after first confirmed in California.

The viral disease is highly contagious and fatal, affecting all species of birds. It is not a threat to humans, Woods said. Wild birds are more resistant, but remain at risk from the disease that can quickly kill all birds in a flock.

Birds that do show symptoms may cough, sneeze, be nervous and have paralysis.

Missouri can test birds at laboratories in Springfield and Columbia. The disease is spread by air, eggs and travel. Woods said the disease moves quickly and would have the capability of wiping out the entire Missouri poultry industry that brought in more than $846 million in cash receipts in 2001. Missouri ranks fourth nationally in turkey production, 14th in egg production and 15th in chickens.

Source: http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=21558
 
 
 
This Email Was Forwarded To Us From A Concerned Missourian With These Questions...........
 
Is This An Example Of Paving The Way To Oppression By Using YAHOO To Spread Requests To Kill Legislation That Would Stop Infringement Upon The Rights Of Others By A Few Fanatics Imposing Their Will Through Unethical Means? 
 
..........they did not include animal control or humane society investigators in those exemptions..........
 
Could It Be Because Of The Potential Use Of The Proposed Statute For Oppression Of Individuals By A Few Fanatics Through Unethical Means?
 
Is The AR "Spin Doctor" Images Of A Compassionate AR  Finally Being Seen Through To What They Really Are?
 
Isn't It Time For More People To Tell Their Legislators And The Public About "Spin Doctored" Images, AR "Spun" Derogatory Terms And......
...........represent "all aspects" of the animal industry.......
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 6:30 AM
Subject: [Pro-Animal-Rights] NEW ACTION ALERT - PHOTO/VIDEO BAN LEGISLATION UPDATE

 --------- Forwarded message ----------

From: <mail@maal.org>

Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 17:22:50 -0400

Subject: NEW ACTION ALERT - PHOTO/VIDEO BAN LEGISLATION UPDATE

MISSOURI ALLIANCE FOR ANIMAL LEGISLATION

ACTION ALERT #2 – ALLIANCE CALLS FOR STRONG

OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED PHOTO/VIDEO LEGISLATION

WHAT IS HAPPENING: The Missouri House and Senate Agriculture Committees held public hearings on HB352 and SB657. The Alliance testified against both bills, as did investigators from the Humane Society of Mo. and the Mo. Animal Control Association. The Sierra Club noted potential dangers to the food supply and the ongoing need for whistleblowers, and the ACLU suggested that trespass laws be strengthened rather than restricting photographs.

The bills were strongly supported by the Mo. Federation of Animal Owners (whose lobbyist claimed to represent "all aspects" of the animal industry and asked both committees to refrain from the use of the derogatory term "puppy mill"), along with the Mo. Pet Breeders Association and representatives from the pork, cattle, poultry and dairy industries.

Both Agriculture committees were in favor of making it a felony to take unauthorized photos, but agreed on the need for exemptions for law enforcement. The House bill has now been revised and combined with HB494 and is officially referred to as SCS HB352/494. It was passed out of committee on 4/17/03 and could be debated before the House at any time.

The House committee added exemptions to allow law enforcement and state/federal regulatory agencies to take photos, but they did not include animal control or humane society investigators in those exemptions. They also added a controversial provision to exempt documents and photos from the state's Sunshine Law, which will prevent any member of the public from seeing information through requests for public records as provided under the Sunshine Law.

The Senate committee has not offered any substitute language, nor has it voted on the bill. SB657 remains in committee.

THE FACTS:

• HB 352/494 would prohibit taking a photo, video or otherwise obtaining images without written consent from the owner of an animal facility if the camera or other device "is in a location that is not legally accessible to the public". This raises obvious questions as to how the "location" of cameras can be proved.

• Neither bill requires any intent to commit a crime in order to be charged with a Class D felony for taking a photograph or video.

• HB352/494 provides exemptions for law enforcement and state/federal regulatory agencies, but no exemptions for animal control or certified humane investigators. Many humane society and animal control officers are trained to photograph suspected violations for evidence in court. Given their expertise, they should not be excluded from collecting such photos as long as they are not trespassing.

• HB352/494 states that "any documents, photographs, videotape, or images from within the animal facility shall not be subject to the provisions of" the state open records law, also known as the Sunshine Law. This revision attempts to prevent the public from viewing photos and other documents compiled by the Mo. Dept. of Agriculture in the course of their inspections. These are "public documents" created by a governmental agency and should remain open to the public under the Sunshine Law.

• Current law already protects property owners against trespassing and against persons obtaining access by false pretenses to commit unauthorized acts (which is already in effect).

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Call, write, or e-mail your State Senator and Representative NOW and ask them to oppose any effort to include the felony photo language in any bill. Ask them to oppose HB352/494. Even if you have already contacted them on this issue, please contact them again. With only a few weeks left in the session, they will need to know that public support is strongly against this attempt to eliminate photographs showing conditions in certain animal facilities.

If your senator or representative states that they don't believe the bill will go anywhere this year, remind them that the language can still be added as an amendment, just as it was added last year in the Senate. Ask them to assure you they will oppose it, if and when it comes up. They should not consider these bills "dead" until the session ends on May 16th.

To contact the Alliance, call 314/994-1000 (in St. Louis), or 1/877/444-6225 (toll free), or visit our

website at www.maal.org. We are here to help! Please share with us an

==================

"Killing With Kindness" - An Act of Compassion

One campaign. One goal: A FEDERAL law for the HUMANE euthanasia of surplus, homeless companion animals. One result: Putting an end to the cruel killing. For more information and a sample letter, please see: http://www.crean.com/kindness

 

 Karen, Jeff and mill rescues Pom Cowboy and Pom Hershey, Pom Abigail and Cock-a-Poo Grady and my kitties! Also from Poms Bridgette and Spritzer and kitties Cow and Tootie who are waiting at the Rainbow Bridge for us. We will never forget you! http://www.nopuppymills.com/

 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Don't Forget To Visit The Purveyors Of Truth In Missouri

(whose lobbyist claimed to represent "all aspects" of the animal industry and asked both committees to refrain from the use of the derogatory term "puppy mill"),

http://www.mofed.org/

 

Your One Stop Site To Comment On Federal Regulations
 
Regulations.gov is the U.S. Government web site that makes it easier for you to participate in Federal rulemaking - an essential part of the American democratic process.

On this site, you can find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register, the Government’s legal newspaper.

As a member of the public, you can submit comments about these regulations, and have the Government take your views into account .

http://www.regulations.gov/

 

Search: http://www.regulations.gov/a-search.cfm
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

SUBJECT: Interstate transportation of animals and animal products (quarantine): Exotic Newcastle disease; quarantine area designations Texas and New Mexico
View this Regulation in HTML Format
View this Regulation in PDF Format
RULE  
Docket ID: [02-117-5]
CFR Citation: 9 CFR 82
Published: April 16, 2003 [FR Doc. 03-09322]
Comments Due: June 16, 2003
How to Comment:
Submit a Comment on this Regulation
You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket No. 02-117-5, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 02-117-5. If you use e-mail, address your comment to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in your message and Docket No. 02-117-5 on the subject line. You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
 
 

Source: http://www.regulations.gov/