Story by Steven Long - Editor/Publisher of “Horseback Magazine“
Underhanded Politics could Ruin State’s Image
HOUSTON, (Horseback) – Missouri lawmakers should take heed if a warning which has appeared on Facebook is true. That state’s legislature is one the edge of passing stealth legislation placed on an omnibus bill that would inadvertently legalize the slaughter of horses.
Facebook calls for action can telegraph worldwide resulting in millions of viewer responses in a matter of minutes.The message that appeared in Facebook friends boxes calls for a boycott of the state by the nations millions of horse lovers. It names members of the Missouri senate and gives their email addresses.
Emails, faxes, and calls, from around the world have reportedly flooded the state since word leaked that the provision had been attached to the bill. The Facebook message reads:
Subject: BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT!!
THIS IS NOT OVER!! PLEASE EMAIL THE SENATORS NOW WITH THIS BOYCOTT MESSAGE!!!
VOTE MAY BE AS SOON AS MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY!!!
jbray@senate.mo.gov
Frak.Barnitz@senate.mo.gov
dan_clemens@senate.mo.gov
Jane.Cunningham@senate.mo.gov
tom.dempsey@senate.mo.gov
timothy_green@senate.mo.gov
Rob.Mayer@senate.mo.gov
chuck.purgason@senate.mo.gov
eschmitt@senate.mo.gov
charlie_shields@senate.mo.gov
wes.shoemyer@senate.mo.gov
bstouffer@senate.mo.gov,
Yvonne.Wilson@senate.mo.gov
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED:
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GO AHEAD FOR A STATEWIDE BOYCOTT BY MANY OF YOUR MO REPS, ET AL.
I HAVE RECEIVED AN ASTRONOMICAL DONATION TO ENSUE THIS STATE BOYCOTT!
ENOUGH TO ERECT 30 BILLBOARDS!! ONE FOR EACH MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ONE FOR EACH DIRT ROAD THAT LEADS TO YOUR STATE!
I-70, 44, 55, 29, 35 AND 435 TO START!
SAY NO TO SUB S.B. 795 THAT INCLUDES HORSE SLAUGHTER LANGUAGE. THE BILL THAT WAS HIDDEN BY SPONSOR VIEBROCK IN ORDER TO CIRCUMVENT THE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED WITHDRAWAL OF THE NOW DEAD H.B.1747
***IF THIS PASSES GET READY**
“One of our readers has responded with a letter, see below – R.T.“
Dear Missouri Senators,
As a retired teacher, I made a point to always teach compassion and concern for all forms of life. It concerns me that MO would even consider passing a bill that would bring the blight of horse slaughter to your beautiful state. I can tell you from what is happening here in WY that even considering putting a slaughterhouse in WY has brought serious repercussions to our state and its dependence on tourism. Our legislators have realized that they were used by one renegade legislator, Slaughterhouse Sue(Wallis) and are quickly back peddling their recent bill which allows the Director of our Livestock Board to dispose of estrays by sending them to slaughter. I am attaching a letter from Mr. James Schwartz which adamantly states that this would be the last choice of disposal of unwanted or estray animals. Most legislators assumed(their mistake) that they were voting on “food” animals such as cattle, sheep, swine and goats. Only after they all voted(and my own legislator called and apologized for not actually reading the bill’s provision in its entirety for himself) and the public outcry was being heard, did they realize they had been duped.
There is no humane way to slaughter horses, nor do most of the American people consider eating horsemeat. With the bute and various drugs used in horses for their medical treatments, it is not safe for people or pets. I suspect that not one of you has or ever would eat horsemeat knowingly. Horses represent part of our American heritage and legacy, for without them, our country would never have been expanded so quickly and successfully.
According to Dr. Lester Friedlander, DVM & former Chief USDA Inspector , “The captive bolt is not a proper instrument for the slaughter of equids, these animals regain consciousness 30 seconds after being struck, they are fully aware they are being vivisected.” Keep this visual in mind as you vote against the inhumane treatment of horses in the State of MO. I have also attached a letter that Mr. Schwartz of the WY Livestock Board sent to my husband and me. Please take time to read it to see that he has no intention of condemning horses from any state to this horrible fate in the State of WY.
Your state depends heavily on tourism for much of its economy. WY is already being boycotted by families and individuals who want nothing to do with a state that would consider such horrific practices in the treatment of horses. The chance that your state will suffer the same fate is likely.
Please strip any clauses or legislation from your bills and rules and do not allow this insidious practice to become a blight on your state’s history. It is the right message to send to the youth of your State and its adult citizens.
Sincerely,
Judith K. Loudin M.Ed, CMT, CR
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