Freedom to Farm in Jeopardy in Arkansas!

Anita Messenger, Arkansas Animal Producers: Last week our Freedom to Farm Act HB1046 was voted a "Do Pass" out of the House Ag Committee in Little Rock. It was proving to be getting a lot of support among the Representatives and it was expected to be voted through the House with no problems. Late tonight there are some new developments.

Due to a mis-guided lawyer, certain animal rights elements in Arkansas are hammering Rep. Ragland and other Reps who are supporting our Freedom To Farm Act HB1046. They were told by this lawyer that our bill will allow puppy mills. The bill specifically names the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and the NAIS does NOT include dogs, cats, etc. so it does NOT legalize puppy mills. It does define animals and dogs and cats would be in that definition as they
are indeed, animals. But the bill concerns those species listed by the USDA for the NAIS. Elephants are animals, but the Freedom to Farm Act HB1046 does not allow you to own them just because they are "animals".

We are being told that PETA has now jumped into this to oppose our bill. PETA has supported NAIS from the beginning so we know why they oppose our bill.

The representatives who are standing up for the Freedom to Farm Act are BEGGING those who support it to CALL their representatives immediately to counteract these other entities. Please let your friends, neighbors, etc. also know. The bill is due to be voted on in the House on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 1:30 p.m. WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME! THIS IS SERIOUS AND CRITICAL. Find your Arkansas State Representative's contact info here! If you want to keep your llamas, birds, horses, cattle, goats, etc., PLEASE help us save our bill!

---

Tags: Arkansas, Freedom to Farm Act To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!