Utah Bill Would Make Videotaping a Factory Farm the Same as Assaulting a Police Office

From Green is the New Red: http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/utah-bill-photgraphy-farms-animal-rights/5714/

by Will Potter

February 17, 2012

Utah is the latest state to consider new laws targeting undercover investigators who expose animal welfare abuses on factory farms. A new bill would make photographing animal abuse on par with assaulting a police officer.

Rep. John Mathis calls undercover investigators “animal rights terrorists,” and says video recordings that have brought national attention to systemic animal welfare abuses are “propaganda” and fundraising efforts.

The bill, HB187, targets anyone who videotapes or takes photograph on a farmer’s property without permission. It creates the crime of “agricultural operation interference,” a class A misdemeanor which is elevated to a third-degree felony on the second offense.

It comes at at time when the FBI has considered “terrorism” charges against undercover investigators.

Continue reading at: http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/utah-bill-photgraphy-farms-animal-rights/5714/