Florida's Ag Gag Bill Reintroduced

Earlier this year a bill was introduced in Florida by Senator Jim Norman that would have made it a felony to take photos or video of a farm or agriculture operation.

The “Ag Gag” bill was openly supported by Big Ag and directed at both whistle-blowers who go undercover to document the cruelty that animals on farms suffer, as well as anyone who wants to just snap a shot while standing on the side of the road. Those documenting what they saw would have been left facing criminal charges, while abusers would be left unaccountable. Fortunately, the bill never came to a vote and similar measures failed in Minnesota, Iowa and New York.

Sen. Norman has reintroduced this legislation by sneaking similar language into a larger agricultural bill (SB 1184), which will make it a first-degree misdemeanor to take photos, audio recordings or video of a farm or farm operation without previous written consent.

All of this was done with urging from Wilton Simpson of Simpson Farms, which “produces 21 million eggs annually for Florida’s second-largest egg seller, Tampa Farm Service,” according to the Florida Independent. Simpson reportedly fears activists will gather dirt on factory farms for campaigns that could lead to a ballot initiative similar to California’s Prop 2. Simpson’s also currently running for senate.

Undercover videos from organizations such as Mercy for Animals and the HSUS have played an important role in exposing not only egregious abuse and unsanitary living conditions that farm animals are forced to endure, but have also drawn attention to standard industry practices that don’t seem to fit into the mainstream idea of humane treatment of animals and in some cases have resulted in criminal charges and new laws.

The materials provided by such investigations have opened the doors to otherwise closed facilities and prompt thought, debate and reform regarding the treatment and use of animals in agriculture would have been swept under the rug.

Please sign the petition asking Florida’s senators not to pass this bill in any form.

Photo credit: Aquafornia via flickr

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Nathalie R.

5:22PM PST on Jan 22, 2012

Check out this article....both sides of the story need to be represented.
http://voices.yahoo.com/florida-ag-gag-bill-reaching-senate-floor-10868975.html?cat=62

send a green star

michelle s.

9:13AM PST on Jan 22, 2012

signed this one and one other on a different site for the same bill and sent an e mail to the democratic senator...what else can i do....need this stopped, besides it being wrong for such a bill to pass in my opinion its governments way of taking away another of our rights....if they have nothing to hide they should have no problem with taking pictures....

Danielle Z.

6:45AM PST on Jan 22, 2012

How do I sign?

Julie R.

11:55AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

The cruelty to farm animals is barbaric, I just can't believe humans can be so cruel. I really feel for these poor animals how can they get away with it, it has to be against the law. Something needs to be done and quick to stop the suffering. Factory farming needs to be made illegal and if the humans would stop demanding so much meat maybe it would end, factory farming is killing this planet come on all you meat eaters change your ways and save the animals and the planet.

Yvonne F.

6:13AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

What an idiot! US people have to think twice before voting those idiots into those positions!

Annemarie W.

11:13AM PST on Jan 3, 2012

thanks for sharing! I signed and I hope others will too!

Carrie Anne B.

6:23AM PST on Jan 3, 2012

signed, thanks for sharing :)

Anne H.

1:59PM PST on Dec 27, 2011

Thanks so much for sharing this story. The way that SB 1184 is written, it would make it illegal for whistle blowers to document ANY activity on agricultural property, including sexual harassment, worker safety violations or any other misconduct. Big Ag needs *more* transparency, not less, in order to protect both the animals and the consumers.

Robert P.

4:59PM PST on Dec 25, 2011

They also treat people the same way. I used to have a sales route out to the area of those farms. Well is not one area..its all down the middle of the state.

David L.

2:23AM PST on Dec 25, 2011

Those agribusiness conglomerates, and their lapdog politicians, should be reminded that those previous countries to try on such odious non-democratic and anti-constitutional measures would have been such outstanding beacons of freedom as Stalinist Russia, various eastern-bloc dictatorships, and parts of the Middle East...

IF Florida or any other US jurisdiction introduces such nonsense, then they will have lost all claims to democracy and freedom..