Pro Ag-Gag

Pro Ag-Gag

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Bob Naerebout, Executive Director of the Idaho Dairymens Association sent me an e-mail to make me aware of an opinion letter sent to the Times News. "Let me say that, initially, I was wholeheartedly against the "Ag-Gag" bill.

The Bettencourt Dairy is about 25 miles from where I live. I am an animal rights activist and have participated in many protests, boycotts and letter-writing campaigns. When I saw the video and heard of Bill S1337, I immediately wrote to both my local legislative representative and Bettencourt Dairy to protest the animal abuse and urge my legislator to vote against it. Then, the real story began to emerge. I heard terrible stories about Mercy For Animals' filming for days without bringing abuse to authorities or owners. MFA went after Bettencourt's customers. Then came MFA's belated release of its video to Idaho authorities. Since that time, the Bettencourt family has been under constant abuse — death threats, boycotts, harassment of its employees' families and its customers.

I then called MFA and spoke at length to one of its reps trying to understand its stance. I was shocked that, far from simply ending animal abuse, MFA is intent on putting the Bettencourt Dairy out of business without regard to the people employed there, the Bettencourt family or the 35,000 head of dairy cattle. MFA's announced purpose in releasing its videos on the Internet is to advance its vegan agenda. MFA's rep stated flatly to me that the Bettencourts and all other stock-handling facilities must be driven out of business, including all meat, dairy and egg facilities.

After hearing from all parties, for the first time in my life I sided with the Legislature against transparency. MFA exposing abuse is one thing; making a concerted effort to close a business that's vital to our local economy is another. This video is two years old. The five men involved were fired. Three faced animal abuse charges and two others fled the state.

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