ARKANSANS - THIS IS AN URGENT CALL FOR ACTION! ARKANSAS PRIMATES in DANGER. ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS featuring caged and or chained chimpanzees, gorillas, baboons, orangutans, and their offspring are headed to any gas station, flea market and even neighborhood shed near you. Arkansas' HB1551, an overly-broad exemption that allows primate pet owners, roadside zoos, and other unqualified facilities to continue acquiring and breeding primates by simply obtaining any type of zoological accreditation without limitation passed during a session hidden from the public via every unethical trick in the book. YOU MUST SPEAK OUT NOW before Governor Asa Hutchinson signs off and makes this bill LAW! There is NO TIME to lose.

As of the evening of April 1, 2015, HB1551’s sponsor, Representative Dan Douglas and Senator Alan Clark took advantage of April Fools Day by making fools of the ARKANSAN PUBLIC at the expense of the well being of primates (including Chimpanzees, Orangutans, Baboons, Gorillas and Macaque Monkeys).  HB1551 passed the Arkansas Senate yesterday evening at 6:41 pm after failing on the senate floor twice.  HB1551 was snuck in at the last minute without any notice to the public on the calendar and barely passed on its third attempt with 18 votes.  This bill was NOT at all supported by the citizens of Arkansas.  It was opposed by the citizens of Arkansas.  Each senator received letters from constituents urging them to vote against HB1551 and most of them did the 1st and 2nd time around.  Through the use of little known and otherwise unethical protocols, the bill was pushed through and passed. HB1551 completely destroys Arkansas current laws concerning the ownership of primates. It puts the public at considerable risk for disease and or injury, increases the potential for unsavory, unskilled individuals to open up a roadside zoo attraction anywhere in the state, including in your neighborhood, and increases the likelihood of primate neglect and abuse in our state, with a big red SEAL OF APPROVAL by our government!

YOU MUST SPEAK OUT NOW before this bill is signed off on as law. This is our last chance to speak up for animals until 2017, when a new legislative session takes place.

Summary of HB1551

1st Senate Vote Wednesday         3/25 4:30 pm                    EXPUNGED Senator Clark

2nd Senate Vote Friday                  3/37 4 11:51 am               EXPUNGED Senator Clark

3rd Senate Vote Wednesday         4/1 6:41 pm                      PASSED
NOT ON CALENDAR

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2015/2015R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=hb1551 

Ways to contact the Governor to ask him to VETO HB1551

• Sign this Petition and include a comment telling Governor Hutchinson you want him to veto HB1551 and DO NOT WANT the current primate laws amended!
• Call Governor Hutchinson - 501-682-2345
• Leave a message on Governor Asa Hutchinson's Facebook page -  https://www.facebook.com/asaforarkansas?fref=ts
• Contact the Governor Asa Hutchinson his online form - http://governor.arkansas.gov/contact-info
• Contact Governor Asa Hutchinson  on his official Twitter page - https://twitter.com/asahutchinson