(The News As We See It) by R.T. Fitch ~ Author/Director of HfH Advisory Council
Lies May Jump-start Dead Bill
photo by Karen Tapia-Andsersen
Breaking News: The Associated Press has reported that the dead Nevada Horse Tripping Bill, SB364, may gain new life after the release of a video graphically showing horse tripping occurring in Nevada only a few weeks ago.
“Seeing that horse flailing on its back. It just got to me,” said Sen. Allison Copening, D-Las Vegas, the bill’s sponsor. “This is not a sport. It is animal cruelty.”Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, said he voted against the bill because witnesses told the Senate committee horse tripping was not a Nevada problem. He also said he would change his mind about the ban if tripping really happened here.
“I do what I say I’m going to do,” he told the AP when approached days after the video aired. “I am committed . . . to put a stop to this.”
Nevada legislators are now acutely aware of the fact that they were lied to by witnesses and anti-horse groups during the testimony heard on April 6th before the Nevada Senate Natural Resources Committee. That same false testimony may be just the ticket to breathe life back into the now dead bill.
Misdemeanor charges against witnesses for providing false testimony may be pursued, Manendo said.
“You cannot lie to a legislator outside of session or in session,” he said, adding that testimony that horse tripping doesn’t happen in Nevada “changed committee members’ minds to not vote for the bill.”
Leading the internet charge against the horses of Nevada was fringe horse slaughter cult leader Wyoming Rep. Sue Wallis and alleged horse trainer and President of yet another newly formed organization, United Horsemen, Dave Duquette. Wallis is currently under investigation in her home state for alleged improprieties with another organization that she is currently dismantling and is also being sued for alleged assault and battery upon a reporter.
“We stopped the HSUS sponsored Senate Bill 613 in Oregon in its tracks. We need you to step up again and communicate with the Nevada legislature. We have learned that yet another bogus “horse tripping” bill is set to be introduced in that state today or tomorrow.” claims Wallis and Duquette on the Facebook page they created for their controversial “Summit of the Horse” that was held in the beginning of January of this year. The “Summit” centered around the promotion of bringing the predatory business of horse slaughter back to the United States and was such a colossal flop that the two are now soliciting funds to pay off their debts.
On their website and in their emails they perpetuate the misconception that “Horse Tripping” does not exist in Nevada. They provide a list of invalid talking points that are an insult to the public’s intelligence and a disservice to American rodeos. The group claims that the Charro Rodeo Association voluntary banned horse tripping in 1995 when in fact, they were forced to do so by a 1994 law, AB 49x – a law that was not spearheaded by the HSUS.
Furthermore Wallis and Duquette appear to promote and condone fraud by closing out their pro-horse tripping webpage with the following comment;
“Another neat way to voice your opinions on any legislation in the current sessions was recently brought to my attention. Go to this website http://www.leg.state.nv.us/AppCF/Opinion/76th2011/Poll/ and follow the directions. It is super easy. (FYI: Madeline Pickens instructed her followers on her Facebook page to use her Wells, NV address when submitting comments. Then they look like Nevada constituents!!) Try it, you’ll like it. Don’t sit on your hands, take action, don’t wait for someone else to do it. Remember people, Confucious say: “ Man who sit on hands has no leg to stand on.”(or something to that effect. lol)“Beverlee McGrath, a lobbyist who represents an array of animal welfare organizations was quoted in the AP article as saying:
“They claimed it doesn’t happen; but guess what, it does happen and it’s going to happen again and again and it’s going to continue to happen until there is a state law to prevent it.”
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