3 Reasons Ag-Gag Laws Are Unconstitutional

Utah, like several other states, has made whistle-blowing a crime. If you want to let the public know which agricultural companies are breaking laws — including those addressing animal cruelty, worker safety, the environment and food safety — then Utah wants you in prison. Statutes criminalizing this kind of whistle-blowing are commonly known as “ag-gag” laws.

It seems rather obvious that ag-gag violates the Constitution (free speech, anyone?), and a group of individuals and organizations has just filed a federal lawsuit arguing exactly that. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, investigative journalism site Counterpunch, and five individuals (including activist Amy Meyer and journalist Will Potter), started litigation in Salt Lake City alleging that Utah’s ag-gag law is unconstitutional.

Ag-gag is also an extreme and frightening example of wealthy special interests controlling our government to our detriment. The only ones ag-gag laws help are the owners of factory farming facilities that torture animals, abuse workers and sell tainted meat, dairy and eggs to consumers. The animals, workers, the environment and we the people get nothing but screwed.
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