Tell Legislators to Honor Free Speech about CAFOs in Nebraska

Under LB204, if a person makes a "false statement" in an employment agreement with the intention of doing an animal facility “economic harm” or doing “serious bodily injury” to someone, criminal violations kick in. If the economic damages are more than $100,000, or there is serious bodily injury, felony charges can be brought. A more serious felony can be brought if economic damages exceed $1 million or if the violation involves the death of another individuals.

It’s clear the only reason for this legislation is to keep the public from seeing the shocking conditions that exist on CAFOs. If passed into law, this bill will protect large factory farms by making undercover investigations into animal care illegal.

Those who report and expose cruelty to animals would risk huge fines. Tell your legislator that photographing CAFOs is protected speech under the First Amendment, and if farmers don’t want their dirty laundry aired, they should simply make their farms sanitary and treat their animals humanely. Rather than stop cruel treatment of animals, this bill will simply ensure that the public never
learns about it.

Please personalize your message if you have the time!

Recipients

Your State Senator or Senators
Your State Representative or Representatives

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

* Phone Number:

Yes, I would like to receive periodic updates and communications from Alliance for Natural Health USA.

Remember me. What's this?

Message

* Subject:

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

As your constituent, I strongly urge you to oppose LB204. Under LB204, if a person makes a "false statement" in an employment agreement with the intention of doing an animal facility "economic harm" or doing "serious bodily injury" to someone, criminal violations kick in. If the economic damages are more than $100,000, or there is serious bodily injury, felony charges can be brought. A more serious felony can be brought if economic damages exceed $1 million or ifthe violation involves the death of another individuals.

This bill would chill legitimate attempts to investigate animal cruelty and expose the grossly unsanitary conditions present at factory farms. This legislation attempts to diminish the public's right to obtain information and undermines our First Amendment rights. This attempt implies that there is even more to be concerned about on factory farms than previously thought. Passing this bill would be a disservice to both good farmers and concerned Nebraska citizens.

Wouldn't it make more sense to clean up the factory farms themselves, rather than trampling the rights of free speech and freedom of the press? Aren't whistleblowers to be applauded? Why should the state of Nebraska protect an industry whose practices are questionable at best, at the expense of a possible violation of the US Constitution?

This is a terrible bill, and supporting it will only endanger the health and well-being of your citizens who consume the food made from the animals kept in such an environment -- not to mention propagating the potential abuse of animals.

Why should companion pets enjoy the protection of animal abuse laws, but food animals be subjected to the most inhumane conditions imaginable?

Protect free speech in Nebraska. Please vote NO on LB204.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Protecting Natural Health