November 16, 2006

US Congress approves law against animal-rights "terrorism"
 

The US Congress has passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006 which protects farms, meat processing plants and research laboratories from animal-rights terrorism.

The new law was amended from the Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992 and passed the Senate in late September.

The act strengthens a federal law dealing with criminal acts against animal enterprises, making animal-rights terrorism a federal crime.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act makes it a criminal act to damage or interfere with the operations of an animal enterprise. The revised version includes intentional damage to any real or personal property and intentional threats against individuals involved in animal enterprises.

The new law also raises the fines and make criminal penalties for such crimes more severe.

The term "animal enterprise" was also expanded to include an enterprise that uses or sells animals or animal products for profit for educational purposes

However, picketing or other peaceful demonstrations by animal rights groups would still be protected by the First Amendment.

Although the law is strongly opposed by animal-rights groups, President Bush is expected to sign it into law.