Wisconsin Ag Connection - Animal Terrorism Act Approved by Congress

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Animal Terrorism Act Approved by Congress
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/15/2006

A measure designed to give federal authorities the ability to arrest and prosecute animal terrorists who use intimidation, threats and other tactics is expected to be signed by President Bush this month. On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006--which strengthens the ability of the Justice Department to prosecute animal rights terrorists who do damage to property or threaten individuals associated with an animal enterprise.

The bill was authored by Wisconsin Congressman Tom Petri and managed on the floor by Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls.

"Some animal rights activists advance their cause through direct action, which includes death threats, vandalism, animal releases and bombings," Petri says. "Their actions are calculated aggressively to intimidate and harass those identified as targets."

Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau called the move a clear victory for farmers.

"Animal rights extremists have escalated their attacks on farmers, including harassment, to the point where animal rights terrorism is now one of the top domestic terrorist threats," said WFBF Spokesperson Tom Thieding. "This legislation would give law enforcement expanded legal options to catch and prosecute those who threaten the lives of farmers and ranchers and the animals they raise, and not wait for actual damage to take place."

Among some of the specifics of the bill include amending the Animal Enterprise Protection Act and enhances the effectiveness of the Department of Justice's response to recent trends in the eco/animal rights-related crime sprees and terror campaigns; addresses the third party targeting system used by animal rights terrorists by prohibiting the intentional damaging of property of a person or entity having a connection to an animal enterprise; prohibits veiled threats to individuals and their families; and increases penalties for intentionally causing economic disruption or damage and for intentionally causing a person bodily injury.

Traditional targets of such crimes include research and biomedical laboratories, fur farms and restaurants. Petri says the measure was drafted with technical assistance from the counter-terror experts at the Justice Department and the FBI.

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