WHAT'S NEXT

Stop Florida Bill That Threatens Animal Welfare, Food Safety and Free Speech
  1. Signatures
    3,081 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of FL
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

May 07, 2011

The Florida Senate passed a bill that would have made it illegal to enter, photograph or video record any agricultural operation. Nicknamed an "Ag Gag Bill," this legislation was intended to shut down the types of undercover investigations by animal protection groups that have revealed shocking animal abuse and consumer safety risks at factory farms. More than 3,000 Change.org community members spoke out against this threat to animal welfare, consumer safety and free speech. In the 11th hour, the state House of Representatives withdrew the bill from consideration and let it die at the end of the legislative session.

 

Florida Senator Jim Norman (R-Tampa) has introduced legislation that would make it a crime for anyone to enter, photograph or video record "a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted" without written consent of the owner.

With trespassing and other laws already in place to protect farmers, this is a blatant attack on animal activists to prevent them from exposing the reality of factory farm cruelty. It's also an attack on free speech as reporters photographing farms from the roadside could face felony charges, too.

Undercover investigations at factory farms have been critical in uncovering the mistreatment of animals as well as conditions that threaten food safety. Legislators should be protecting their constituents with laws that require monitoring of factory farms, but instead they're protecting the special interests of Big Ag and putting both animals and humans at risk in the process.

Whether you're worried about the treatment of animals, the safety of your food supply or protecting your constitutional rights, this is a dangerous piece of legislation. Tell Florida legislators to vote "no" on SB 1246.

Image: Abuse at Conklin Dairy Exposed by Mercy for Animals

 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

VETO SB 1246 -- Protect Free Speech and the Public's Right to Know Where Their Food Comes From

Dear Gov. Scott,

I was appalled to learn that a bill has passed that would make it illegal for anyone to enter, photograph or video record "a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted" without written consent of the owner.

This bill is an attack on free speech, and it puts people and animals at risk. I urge you to veto SB 1246.

Undercover investigations at factory farms have been critical in uncovering criminal mistreatment of animals as well as conditions that threaten food safety. People have a right to know where their food comes from. Legislators should be protecting their constituents with laws that require monitoring of factory farms, not protecting the special interests of the agriculture industry.

Trespassing and other laws are already in place to protect farmers and free speech advocates have warned that this bill is unconstitutional.

Please veto SB 1246.

[Your name]

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