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Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Ohio bill would stiffen penalties for ecoterrorism
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/aWednesday, March 30, 2005
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS - A terrorism bill would add Ohio to a growing number of states seeking harsher penalties for attacks by animal rights activists and environmentalists, including those against dog food makers, farms where animals are caged and university animal labs.
Arson, vandalism, assault, break-ins and other tactics used by extremists already are illegal. A national group of conservative state lawmakers has been promoting laws to create a separate offense of ecoterrorism since 2003, when California passed such a law.
Sponsors say the bills are needed because of fire-bombings at ski resorts and new subdivisions, break-ins to free disease-carrying laboratory animals and threats against corporate executives.
The Humane Society of the United States opposes using violence in the name of protecting animals but considers the bills too broad, lobbyist Julie Janovsky said. New York and Missouri proposals would outlaw videotaping without permission at farms and labs. "At the root they are trying to prohibit investigations into animal cruelty," Janovsky said.
State Sen. Jeff Jacobson of the Dayton area included the animal language in a bill that would outlaw many activities considered domestic terrorism, such as donating money to groups on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations.
His bill would add attacks on lawful animal activities such as farming, food processing and hunting to the list of offenses that could be prosecuted under state racketeering law, allowing the state to seize assets after a conviction or sue if the suspect is acquitted.
Ohio bill would stiffen penalties for ecoterrorism
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/aWednesday, March 30, 2005
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS - A terrorism bill would add Ohio to a growing number of states seeking harsher penalties for attacks by animal rights activists and environmentalists, including those against dog food makers, farms where animals are caged and university animal labs.
Arson, vandalism, assault, break-ins and other tactics used by extremists already are illegal. A national group of conservative state lawmakers has been promoting laws to create a separate offense of ecoterrorism since 2003, when California passed such a law.
Sponsors say the bills are needed because of fire-bombings at ski resorts and new subdivisions, break-ins to free disease-carrying laboratory animals and threats against corporate executives.
The Humane Society of the United States opposes using violence in the name of protecting animals but considers the bills too broad, lobbyist Julie Janovsky said. New York and Missouri proposals would outlaw videotaping without permission at farms and labs. "At the root they are trying to prohibit investigations into animal cruelty," Janovsky said.
State Sen. Jeff Jacobson of the Dayton area included the animal language in a bill that would outlaw many activities considered domestic terrorism, such as donating money to groups on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations.
His bill would add attacks on lawful animal activities such as farming, food processing and hunting to the list of offenses that could be prosecuted under state racketeering law, allowing the state to seize assets after a conviction or sue if the suspect is acquitted.
