First of all I’d like to say I don’t normally involve myself in U.S. politics. When I learned the FBI can now charge animal activists with terrorism, I decided I needed to know more about this. There are some changes being made by my government that have me a bit-well-TERRIFIED.
This is going to be one of my articles that will give you a colossal headache. I’ll warn you this article is thought provoking, confusing, and necessary to warn those involved in undercover surveillance to expose animal abusers they may be charged with terrorism.
Please take a look at this video where U.S. President Obama takes a hit at the American Constitution stating it has several major flaws that need to be changed. It’s important for you to understand this before I go any further.
I believe this change in government was originally meant as a homeland security measure to stop terrorism. Instead it has become a way to arrest American (as well as foreign) citizens without charge and hold them for an indefinite period.
I’ll later explain how in the end this also violates many of our privileges in the U.S. Bill of Rights.
As I said, I’m not into politics, so I’ll stop right here on this subject. There are plenty of references on the internet for those wanting to research what this new law means to U.S. citizens.
Now for the terrifying information I’ve learned. It was recently uncovered through the Freedom of Information Act that the FBI has kept records on many animal rights activists groups over the past decade.
We’ve all read of groups and organizations who go undercover into slaughterhouses and animal testing labs in order to secretly film and investigate claims of animal abuse.
The FBI is now stating such undercover activity, which includes trespassing and causes a loss of income to those being investigated, is an act of non-violent civil disobedience. Perhaps the FBI should just say non-violent terrorism since that’s what they mean.
Mostly this refers to livestock and factory farming. I believe it would also extend to any business that profits by causing pain to animals.
Those investigating claims of animal abuse are violating the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, 18 USC Section 43.
I’m not going to list a bunch of references for this. Just go to your search engine and type in “FBI can charge animal rights activists with terrorism” and several pages will come up.
I did an article many months ago where PETA investigated a lab in North Carolina for severe abuse to animals. Here’s the link. It ended with the lab animals being rescued. Which means without testing subjects the company lost income. According to the new FBI criteria, those investigating could be charged with terrorism.
I’m afraid this Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act will have a ripple effect on those trying to save animals. What if the ASPCA or other animal welfare organization cut into the profits of a big organization by investigating rumors of animal abuse. Will those investigating be charged with terrorism (since according to government this IS an act of terrorism) and held without trial for an indefinite period.
How about those who publicly denounce declawing, whether at a convention or outside a veterinary hospital. Are those protestors committing an act of terrorism? They’re certainly cutting into the profit that would be made by those being protested. Can those who want to ban declawing in the U.S. and publicly go after vets who declaw be arrested without charges and held in prison until who knows when?
These are scary thoughts on what our country here has become. The military is being granted permission to join local police forces under the guise of protecting those living in the U.S. Yet all of our constitutional rights are being taken away from us.
These are rights that we’ve lived by for over 200 years. Rights that made it clear that anyone who tried to change or abolish those rights would be committing an act of terrorism.
How do the readers here think these new changes in U.S. law will affect those fighting for the animals? This is very scary to me. Even the writing of this article could possibly be viewed as terrorism. Are any other countries creating laws such as these?
Please comment on any of this. As I said, I’m not into politics. Feel free to add anything I may have missed.
Elisa
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