US District Court of Kansas Shoots Down Ag-Gag Laws in Kansas

​worldanimalnews.com/u-s-district-count-of-kansas-strikes-down-nearly-all-of-the-states-ag-gag-laws/

The District Court of Kansas has shot down nearly all of Kansas' ag-gag laws, deeming them unconstitutional. The law, which prevents undercover exposure of animal agriculture facilities, has spent 30 years keeping activists from exposing the horrors happening behind the scenes throughout Kansas' animal agriculture industry.

Kansas' motion to have the case dismissed was denied meaning that they cannot enforce the ag-gag law. The court granted almost all of the concessions to the coalition of activist groups who were challenging the ag-gag laws with the only exceptions being abuse to animals by activists and civil remedy for violations. This means that the court has ruled in favour of abolishing the ag-gag laws as they violate the first amendment, freedom of speech. This is fairly monumental as Kansas not only has the highest population of cows, but has also enforced the ag-gag law for the longest of all the states that tried / are currently enforcing the rule.

The ag-gag law was introduced to prevent activists or undercover investigations from exposing the happenings behind the scenes of one of the most cruel industries on our planet. Often times, these undercover investigations turn up multiple instances of unwarranted abuse of animals, poor quality of life conditions, and regulations & standards set out by the agriculture industry not being met. To avoid having to comply with regulations or provide adequate care to these animals, they use the ag-gag law as a way of preventing anyone from finding out what's really happening behind the scenes.

I have long been vocal about ag-gag laws and why they are nothing more than an opportunity to cover up wrong doings in an already cruel industry. If you are operating at the appropriate standards and following the required animal welfare guidelines set out, then you would have absolutely no problem with allowing activists or investigations into your property. The ag-gag laws are a way to protect the agriculture industry from having to meet these guidelines and to protect them from being exposed. In almost every undercover investigation that has been made public, there were several instances of animals being kicked, choked, punched, thrown, and treated like nothing more than a piece of trash. None of this complies with regulations set out for the industry, hence the ag-gag laws.

So far, ag-gag laws have been struck down in Iowa, Utah, and Idaho and are being challenged in North Carolina and Arkansas. I'll say this again, if you have nothing to hide then stop hiding behind the ag-gag laws. If you are scared of being investigated, it's time to monitor your fucking establishment to ensure that these atrocities aren't happening. These animals live shit lives as it is without having to deal with physical abuse outside of being slaughtered.

It's time to end the ag-gag laws once and for all!

HAPPY VEG