Petitioner David Michelson (Portland) says they have 30,000 signatures for Initiative Petition 3, which criminalizes injuring or killing animals, including killing for food, hunting, fishing; criminalizes breeding practices, and removes domestic animal exceptions from Oregon laws. To get on the ballot, 120,413 signatures are required.

The petition is titled “Abuse, Neglect, and Assault Exemption Modification and Improvement Act.” It claims that animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, and fear; and that current exemptions to laws permit unnecessary and inhumane harm to animals. The laws governing animals permits abuse, animal neglect, and animal sexual assault. The purpose of this Act is to amend Oregon Statutes in order to remove the current exemptions that allows for the inhumane and unnecessary abuse, neglect, and assault of animals.

The proposal requires all animals should be cared for in ways that minimize their pain, stress, fear, and reduce the suffering of animals to improve their quality of life. The provisions of this Act shall be interpreted consistently with the findings, purposes and policy objectives stated and shall not be limited by any policy set forth in Oregon law that could conflict with or be interpreted to conflict with the purposes and policy objectives stated in the “Abuse, Neglect, and Assault Exemption Modification and Improvement Act.”

The proposal wants all animals to be treated as the law has previously reserved for domestic animals, including providing adequate bedding, shelter from weather, tethering, and prohibits dehorning and neutering or euthanasia.

A person commits the crime of animal abuse in the second degree if, except as necessary to defend against the threat of immediate harm to oneself, to other humans, or to other animals, the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to an animal or fails to provide the care in the Act. All exemptions for mental health, acting unknowingly and restitution have been removed.

A person commits the crime of animal abuse in the first degree if, except as necessary to defend against the threat of immediate harm to oneself, to other humans, or to other animals, the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury or death of any animal.

This Act’s application is done by removing the following exemptions so all animals would be subject to the Act:

• Treatment of livestock being transported by owner or common carrier
• Animals involved in rodeos or similar exhibitions
• Commercially grown poultry
• Animals subject to good animal husbandry practices
• The killing of livestock according to the provisions of ORS 603.065 (Slaughter methods)
• Animals subject to good veterinary practices as described in ORS 686.030 (Acts constituting practice of veterinary medicine)
• Lawful fishing, hunting and trapping activities
• Wildlife management practices under color of law
• Lawful scientific or agricultural research or teaching that involves the use of animals
• Reasonable activities undertaken in connection with the control of vermin or pests
• Reasonable handling and training techniques

In other words, it puts the Department of Fish and Wildlife into an enforcement agency making fishing and hunting illegal, eliminates circuses, criminalizes kids participating in 4-H Clubs or Good Farmers of America, and will force restaurants and grocery stores to import meat making it unaffordable.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

When asked about why such a sweeping Act, Michelson likened it to women’s suffrage. “Did you know that it took 6 election cycles for women to win the right to vote in Oregon? They also did that by ballot initiative, and the first one was voted down handedly (it only got 28% support). They didn't see that as a waste, they saw that as the first step. Across the country, it took 54 ballot measures, most of which failed, before public support had shifted enough to pass the 19th amendment. We see our campaign as using the same tactic which history has shown to be effective. This would be the first time in history any state has held a vote on protecting an animal's right to life in law. This is how we mobilize a mass movement.”

Unity is no longer a question of being respectful of other people’s choices and life styles. Protein is a key part of any diet. The average person needs about 7 grams of protein every day for every 20 pounds of body weight. Red meat provides iron, zinc and B vitamins. Meat is also one of the main sources of vitamin B12 in the diet. As with all foods, too much meat has health drawback, but no medical physician suggests cutting meat protein out of your diet completely risking optimum health. A vegan diet isn't healthy for everyone.

Vegetarianism came from Indian and Greek philosophers arguing “the transmigration of souls, animal welfare, and the view that if humans deserve justice, then so do animals.” So the Vegan Society has progressed through the centuries with substitute proteins, and now they want everyone to give up backyard BBQ steaks and adopt their life style.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-09-04 18:08:38

Last Update: 2023-09-16 16:24:24