Why We Should All Take a Stand Against Ag-Gag Legislation

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For many animals living on factory farms, their short lives are plagued with torture up until their brutal deaths. As profit gets placed above all else, animals are subjected to inhumane and unhealthy living conditions that not only harm them, but also put meat consumers' health at risk due to disease and bacteria.

Depressing, right?

Luckily, animal rights advocates have documented abusive farming methods in an attempt to curb the all-too-common violations. While inhumane treatment is still rampant, activists' videos, audio and photos have helped to stop egregious violations and shame the meat industry into stopping some mistreatment.

Sadly, this practice may soon become illegal.

With lawmakers' help, the meat lobby is now pushing ag-gag bills that would silence anyone looking to report animal violence. These bills are already law in some states and are popping up as proposed legislation in a growing number of other states.

The laws would give the meat industry free reign over their production procedures, allowing them to commit any abuse or mistreatment with little opposition. This could lead to a larger amount of meat that contains bacteria, disease, antibiotics, or added hormones, not to mention the added suffering of millions of animals.

Bottom line, ag-gag laws are harmful to everyone, meat-eater, vegetarian and vegan alike. They keep the public in the dark about the abuses and handling of livestock. It puts omnivores at risk due to the poor quality of the meat, but it also threatens the general population as antibiotics are being overused to treat animals living in unhealthy conditions. This overuse can diminish the effectiveness of antibiotics in humans, leading to untreatable common health conditions.

Still not convinced? Just think about it this way: doesn't everyone deserve to know what goes into the food they eat? Shouldn't we have a right to know how our food is made and what substances it might contain?

So no matter your dietary choice, make sure you voice your opposition to ag-gag bills. You can start by signing the ag-gag petition. You can also help to spread the word about this legislation and it's harmful implications. It's worth the risk of being a Debbie Downer to talk to friends and family about these laws. Too much is at stake for us to turn a blind eye to the plight of farm animals and the abuses of the meat industry.

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