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Advocacy Center

Action Alert

NY: Dangerous Bill Would Criminalize Farm Investigations!

NY S. 5172—"Ag-Gag" Bill to Prevent Exposure of Farm Animal Cruelty
Sponsor: Senator Patty Ritchie
ASPCA Position: Oppose
Action Needed: Please email your New York State senator now to urge his/her opposition to S. 5172, legislation to criminalize whistleblowing at agricultural operations!

A bill currently pending in the New York State Senate, S. 5172, would criminalize taking a photograph of a farm animal without the farm owner’s written consent. Doing so would be considered “tampering with a farm animal,” a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.

S. 5172 has passed the Senate Agriculture Committee, which is chaired by the bill’s sponsor, and been sent to the full Senate for a floor vote.

Similar legislation to thwart investigations of animal cruelty on commercial farms has been sought this year in Florida, Minnesota and Iowa. These bills are pushed by big agribusiness, which dislikes the bad publicity and loss of profits suffered when undercover videos reveal to the public how animals are mistreated at factory farms.

The various “ag-gag” measures sought by agribusiness in New York and other states would harm both animals and people. Whistleblowers on farms alert officials to animal cruelty, as well as to environmental hazards and dangers posed to the food supply. New York S. 5172 would discourage such reports and jeopardize consumers. But this runs counter to common sense—whistleblowers should be applauded for their efforts, not jailed or fined!

What You Can Do
S. 5172 may be voted on at any moment by the full New York Senate! Please use the form below to email your New York State senator immediately to urge him/her to oppose S. 5172.

Your legislators receive a lot of correspondence, so please use the text box provided to personalize your message and make it stand out.

Thank you for your help, New York!

Take Action

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Your State Upper Chamber Representatives

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Oppose S. 5172, Criminalization of Agricultural Whistleblowing

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As your constituent, I respectfully urge you to oppose S. 5172, legislation to criminalize legitimate attempts to investigate animal cruelty.

S. 5172 would criminalize simply making a video or taking a photograph of a farm animal without the farm owner's written consent. Doing so would be considered "tampering with a farm animal," a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.

Whistleblowers on farms alert officials to animal cruelty, as well as to environmental hazards, worker-safety issues and dangers posed to the food supply. S. 5172 would discourage such reports and jeopardize consumers, when in fact whistleblowers should be applauded, not jailed or fined.

The proposed bill implies that there may be even more to be concerned about on the state's factory farms than previously thought. Passing this bill would be a disservice to both good farmers and concerned New York citizens.

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Again, I respectfully, but strongly, ask that you oppose S. 5172, legislation that is bad for consumers, New York's animals and the voters who care about them. Thank you for your consideration of my views.

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