WHAT'S NEXT

Don't Let New York Outlaw Undercover Factory Farm Investigations
  1. Signatures
    1,798 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of NY (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The Governor of NY
      • The NY State Senate
      • The NY State House
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jun 27, 2011

The 2011 New York legislative session has ended and the bill to outlaw undercover factory farm investigations has died. New York was one of several states to propose an "ag gag" law this year, which would prevent anyone from photographing or making audio or video recordings of agricultural operations without the farm owner's consent.

Although the sponsors of the New York bill claimed it was intended to protect the food system from terrorism and prevent the theft of fertilizer used in meth labs, legislators were hard-pressed to cite instances of either of those situations posing a legitimate threat. However, there had been several instances in recent years of undercover investigations exposing criminal animal cruelty on New York factory farms.

Thousands of Change.org members have been pressuring state legislators to reject these attacks on animal welfare, food safety and free speech. New York has joined Florida, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri in dropping their ag gag bills following public outcry.

New York is the latest state to introduce an "ag gag" law in an attempt to shut down undercover investigations that expose cruelty to farm animals and consumer safety risks. New York Senate Bill 5172 would make it a crime to photograph, video or audio record agricultural operations without the owner's consent, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

Undercover investigations have exposed shocking abuse of farm animals, which has led to criminal charges being filed, as well as new industry regulations. This is both why the industry is pushing for these bills and why it's so critical that they're defeated.

Without these investigations, the public would be left in dark about how their food is produced and how animals are treated on factory farms. 

New York SB 5172 is a threat to animal welfare, food safety and free speech. Similar bills in Florida and Minnesota were recently shot down. Help make sure that New York legislators choose to protect their constituents over agribusiness interests.

Photo credit: Farm Sanctuary

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Protect Consumer Safety and Animal Welfare - Vote NO on SB 5172

Greetings,

I am writing to urge you vote against SB 5172, which would make it a crime to photograph, video or audio record agricultural operations without the owner's consent.

With farmers already protected against trespassing and other crimes committed on their property, this is a blatant attack against groups who expose the cruel treatment of animals in factory farm production. Undercover investigations have led to criminal charges and improved regulations that protect both animals and consumers.

People have a right to know how their food is produced. I urge you to take a stand for food safety, animal welfare and free speech. Please vote "NO" on SB 5172.

[Your name]

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