Tell Your State Legislators to Repeal the Ag-Gag Law!

Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Montana have “ag-gag” laws on the books that make it a felony to document and expose illegal and cruel practices at concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and other agricultural facilities without permission.

It’s clear the only reason for this legislation is to keep the public from seeing the shocking conditions that exist on CAFOs. This law protects large factory farms by making undercover investigations into animal care illegal. Those who report and expose cruelty to animals would risk huge fines.

Recently, a judge in the federal District Court for Kansas ruled that the state’s so-called “ag-gag” law was unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds.

Kansas is the fourth state where an ag-gag law has been struck down (similar laws were previously disallowed in Idaho, Utah, and Iowa). Despite these wins there are still ag-gag laws on the books in Alabama, North Carolina, Montana, North Dakota, and Arkansas.

If you live in one of these states, tell your legislator that being a whistleblower is protected speech under the First Amendment, and the “ag-gag” law needs to be repealed in order to avoid a costly lawsuit like the one in Kansas.

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Please Repeal the Ag-Gag Law!

Dear [Decision Maker],

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I was distressed to learn that our state has an "ag-gag" law that would make it a felony to document and expose illegal and cruel practices at concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and other agricultural facilities without permission.

The law chills legitimate attempts to investigate animal cruelty and expose the grossly unsanitary conditions present at factory farms. It attempts to diminish the public's ability to obtain information and undermines our First Amendment rights. Furthermore, this law implies that there is even more to be concerned about on factory farms than previously thought. The law is a disservice to both good farmers and concerned citizens of our state.

Recently, a judge in the federal District Court ruled that the Kansas' so-called "ag-gag" law was unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds. Kansas is the fourth state where an ag-gag law has been struck down (similar laws were previously disallowed in Idaho, Utah, and Iowa).

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 our state protect an industry whose practices are questionable at best, at the expense of a possible violation of the US Constitution?

This is a terrible law, and it needs to be repealed. 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 our state, and avoid a costly lawsuit like the recent one in Idaho. Please REPEAL the "ag-gag" law!

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