Farms and animal confinement facilities -- like puppy mills -- want to maintain "biosecurity," -- supposedly to inhibit the transference of disease or hazardous substances but in reality to keep their operation safe from animal advocates.
A Pennsylvania bill would criminalize trespass that violates this security and allow animal confinement facilities to operate behind closed doors -- and away from animal advocate's eyes.
This harmful legislation would chill advocacy efforts on behalf of farm and companion animals confined on Pennsylvania's factory farm and puppy mills. Under this bill, it would be a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 to enter such a confinement property.
The bill has already passed the house and is now quickly moving through the Senate -- we need to stop this dangerous bill before it's too late!
Send a message to Pennsylvania legislators and tell them NOT to protect puppy mills and factory farms!
Dear [Decision Maker],
As a concerned constituent, I am writing to urge you to take a stand against PA HB 511/SB 906. I understand that some legislators believe this measure will protect small farmers. However, given its broad definition of criminal trespass and extreme penalty--this legislation, in fact, appears to be a thinly disguised effort to protect Pennsylvania's factory farms and puppy mills.
Specifically, under HB 511/SB 906, it would be a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, to enter and farm or animal confinement facility and "damage" a plant. Merely stepping on and thereby harming a blade of grass would thus constitute a crime subject to a long prison term and large fine. By contrast, current law makes entering a property "for the purpose of threatening or terrorizing the owner or occupant of the premises" a mere summary offense, punishable by up to 90 days in prison and a fine of up to $300.
Please do not allow the quick advancement of this bill thus far to deter you from opposing it. It is never too late to stop the momentum of a bad bill.
I respectfully urge you to ask Senate leadership not to give HB 511/SB 906 a vote on the Senate floor, but if it is given a floor vote, I urge you to vote "no."
