Spanier Welding



Wisconsin Ag News Headlines
Judges Hears Testimonies Over Amish Premise ID Dispute
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/24/2009

All eyes were on Clark County on Wednesday where its circuit court judge heard arguments over the state's very first case against violators of Wisconsin's Livestock Premise Registration law. Nearly 100 members of the Amish community packed the court room, while dozens of others were standing in the hallway to support Emanuel Miller Jr. of Loyal. He is being charged with failing to comply with the recently enacted premise ID law. The Amish believe the requirement infringes on their religious believes because it could eventually result in the tagging of all animals, or the 'Mark of the Beast.'

According to WCCN Radio, District Attorney Darwin Zwieg file the case on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, and Attorney Bonnie Wacsmuth was appointed as a 'Friend of the Court' in the matter to address the constitutional questions regarding religious freedom.

During yesterday's testimony, the state presented five witnesses in an effort to show there was a 'compelling interest' in this case. For the rule to pass muster, the judge will have to determine that interest trumps the Amish's sincerely held religious beliefs.

Prosecutors cited a recent pseudorabies outbreak in Clark County as an example of why the law is needed. They say with mandatory premise ID, the process of tracking down potentially at-risk farms would be much easier.

The county reportedly has dozens of farms that are not in compliance with the rule. As part of the law, anyone who keeps, houses, or co-mingles livestock must register their premises with the state of Wisconsin.

The radio station reports that Noah Schwartz, an Amish church bishop, said there were two main reasons his community couldn't comply. First, Premise ID could be a forerunner to the Mark of the Beast, as described in the Book of Revelation. Secondly, it represented a shift of people's trust from God to government.

"I can't actually say this is the Mark of the Beast. I do feel it is, at least, a strong lead to such," Schwartz said, "I would not want to be a part in promoting a system that would lead to that."

He also noted that members of his community had already been forced out of dairy farming because their producers' licenses had been denied due to their non-compliance.

Meanwhile, Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell will wait to make a ruling on the constitutionality of the law, which could take several months. He also ordered both sides to submit written arguments on whether the law can be applied to the Amish without violating their constitutional right to freedom of religion.


Other Wisconsin Headlines
TractorPumps.com
Riverside Plastic Inc./RSI Calf Hutches
Copyright © 2024 - Farms.com. All Rights Reserved.