Victory! California's 'Ag-Gag' Bill Dies

Republican Jim Patterson introduced “ag-gag” Assembly Bill
343 to the California Assembly—if passed, the bill would have likely shut down undercover investigations on factory farms. As it
turned out, the bill was what got shut down. There was so much opposition to Assembly Bill 343 that Patterson yanked it out
of consideration himself after admitting to the Los Angeles Times that he does care about the treatment of animals on farms and may now even
pursue legislation that actually protects animals from abuse, instead of encouraging
it.

Not
surprisingly, the bill was sponsored by the California Cattlemen’s Association.
But the public outcry against the bill was deafening. Legislators were flooded
with e-mails from advocates for animals and free speech, and Republican
legislators also got hit with a personal appeal that GOP strategist Mary Matalin filmed for PETA
and sent to each legislator herself:

Animal advocates are also making great
strides in Indiana, where a proposed “ag-gag” bill has had most of
the wind sucked out of its sails. After legislators there also heard from Mary
Matalin and throngs of disapproving voters, House Speaker Brian Bosma deemed the bill
unconstitutional and legislators promptly
gutted it, removing penalties for filming or taking photos on farms. Now we need your help
to bring about a similar victory in Tennessee, where legislators passed a proposed “ag-gag”
bill, which is now heading to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk for his signature. Tennessee Senate Republican
Leader Mark Norris and singer Carrie Underwood have both harshly criticized the unconstitutional measure, and they need
everyone’s help to stop this bill before it becomes law and makes taking
pictures or filming on factory farms illegal. No matter what state you live in,
please e-mail Haslam and urge him not to sign Senate Bill 1248. You can also
send polite tweets to @BillHaslam.