Horse slaughter will be a criminal offense. Why not make cattle slaughter also a five year prison term?
2-16-2009
Good folks at Western Horseman,
We at Rancho Santiago Mules in Texas have enjoyed the steady increasing quality of your fine magazine over the past few years. Congratulations for a job well done.
Here are thoughts from a 66 year old producer of fine mules that began his riding at the age of four years on the back of a jug headed mule. These thoughts as well as other brilliant or stupid opinions are recorded on our ranch blog at www.ranchosantiago.com.
We are concerned that people of good faith have combined with all knowing political power brokers and extreme animal rights advocates and have created havoc and economic disaster throughout the equine industry by forcing shut the doors to the slaughter of nonproductive, crippled, or vicious equines. Now they seek to criminalize the harvest of these economically viable livestock.
I submit the following for your consideration for publication or for the deleted file.
Thank you,
Dr. Jim Gamble
At Rancho Santiago
East Afton, Texas
“New legislation aimed at stemming the export of horses for slaughter in Mexico and Canada was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on Jan. 14. Sponsored by Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich) and Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) HR 503, the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, prohibits the transport, sale, delivery, or export of horses for slaughter for human consumption. It also criminalizes the purchase, sale, delivery, or export of horse meat intended for human consumption.
Violators would face fines and/or one year imprisonment for a first offense or those involving five or fewer horses, and fines and/or three years imprisonment for repeat offenses or those involving more than five horses.
The new bill is essentially the same as HR 6598, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, also introduced by Conyers and Burton in July 2008. The committee passed that bill in September, but it never received a full House vote” reports the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers news up date.
How interesting that it is a criminal act to slaughter horses because it is "cruel". We slaughter cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, turkeys, wild game, rabbits, fish, frogs and even turtles for food. Why is it not cruel to slaughter these other animals for human consumption? Because I am an omnivorous animal, I eat meat and veggies. I find myself basically in agreement with the hunter and musician, Ted Nugent, who defines P.E.T.A. as "People Eating Tasty Animals".
It is almost as interesting as the "cruelty"angle that the United States Congress presumes to criminalize and punish Americans for what folks outside of our borders do with equines they purchased and imported into their sovereign state. While Congress is at it, what else should congress dictate for punishment of Americans about what happens in other countries?
Should all animals be treated ethically and humanely ... ABSOLUTELY! ... Without question ... the humane treatment of all animals is a must!
Ranchers & farmers are in the livestock production business to make a profit like any other business venture. Responsible livestock producers do not starve or brutalize the animals in their care. Stock-men strive to promote excellent animal health by providing top care for their livestock to ensure optimum weight gain and performance for maximum return on their investment.
This one single species of animal, equine, is being deemed unacceptable for slaughter in the United States on the basis of "cruelty". Most of Europe, the Arabs, and the Japanese consume horse meat. All I can figure out concerning this overly emotional subject of horse slaughter is that some folks suffer from early childhood residual emotions left in place after reading Black Beauty in elementary school. As a kid they missed the adult bus and did not realize that Black Beauty is a good tearful story from a book of fiction.
Purchasing an equine does not entail the life long obligations or commitment of adopting a child. Providing care until a horse dies of old age is an option, but it is not the same duty as taking care of an elderly grandparent. Millions of dollars are being spent daily for long term care of horses while children and the elderly in this country and around the world starve and die of curable disease. Equines are not people nor are equines superior to other members of the animal world. It is time to grow up.
It appears that a few well meaning people and the radical sector of power drunk animal activist bullies have combined to bring the end horse slaughter in the U.S.A. They have damaged the entire equine industry by blocking the sale of unneeded, low value, bottom of the market equines whose sale shored up the financial bottom rung of the horse market. The market has collapsed.
The "Texas Monthly" magazine and the February, 2009, issue of the "Western Horseman" magazine report that Madeleine Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Bone Pickens, is a major force in bringing equine slaughter in the United States to a halt. At least Ms. Pickens has put her money where her mouth talks. This good lady is getting together 2 million acres of land for a horse sanctuary to turn out 33,000 horses that the BLM cannot care for properly. Ms. Pickens plan is for horses to "roam in the wild ... so these horses will live out their natural lives".
OOPS! Ms. Pickens, so what about the natural lives of the native animal inhabitants living on those 2 million acres where the deer and the antelope play? Will those free roaming native animals be given the same veterinarian support, vaccinations, feed and volunteer support that is planned for the invading horde of horses? Will the wildlife be crowded off the land or die because precious feed and water for our native animals such as elk, deer, buffalo, geese, quail, kangaroo mice and other wildlife is sucked up by thousands of introduced horses?
Some individuals demand that "fewer horses" have to be raised ... but just how many cattle, or plumbing supplies, or boxes of jello are to be allocated by these all knowing people of power who assume the right to tell independent private business owners how and what to do with their invested money and plans. Perhaps, if I adopt their dictatorial stance, I too have the right to tell Mr. T. Boone how many wind mills I will allocate for him to build in spite of the fact that it is his monetary investment. Personally, I hope we cover much of windy Texas with mind mills producing clean renewable energy.
We have turned down "gift" horses that have been offered to us for free. We have experienced refusals to accept horses and mules that we have offered at no cost to individuals. So just where do these old, non productive, crippled, or vicious equines now go that are no longer useful and must be removed from the feed bill, veterinarian expenses, corals, and pastures to make room for equines that can produce? Do those honorable congress people want these large animals in their back yard around Washington D.C. or at your home?
We advocate the slaughter of equines that are no longer economically productive. Use the meat to feed a person or for dog food and utilize the hide to make leather with the left over used for fertilizer. The equine production business is not a game or about love, it is a business. Why do these few special interest people get to decide to love only equines and refuse to love cattle and swine on an equal basis? Have they kissed their pig today? Their stance is nuts.
Disagree with us if you want too, but do not whine, gripe, and cry over horse slaughter if you personally have not taken on board these nonproductive, vicious or crippled equines and pay out of your own pocket for their care, feed, and veterinarian bills while shedding a tear in the corner of your eye about poor ole Black Beauty.
This is my view from thoughts gathered sitting in my saddle while riding my mule, "Black Berry Moonshine”. These thoughts are based on long experience in the livestock business, years as a teacher of vocational agriculture with an earned Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, and as a doctor of Psychology.
Dr. Jim Gamble
At Rancho Santiago
East Afton, Texas
Here is a interesting response I received concerning horse slaughter'
Excellent!!! My thoughts exactly. Last night on "Leno", during the "headlines" segment, Jay reads an article about animal rights where some "well informed" woman states, "shame on you hunters and meat packing people for killing Gods creatures for meat to eat. Why don't you just go to the grocery store and buy it like I do." Yeah buddy. Gene
UPDATE !!!!
Subject: Constituent Response From Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Dear Dr. Gamble:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the ban on horse slaughter. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this issue.
On January 17, 2007, legislation prohibiting the shipping, purchasing and selling of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption was introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. S. 311 was introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. H.R. 503 was introduced by Representative Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and referred jointly to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the House Committee on Agriculture. As these companion bills are considered, you may be certain I will keep your views in mind.
Another nice postive congressional response:
From: Congressman Randy Neugebauer [mailto:tx19ima.pub@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 3:21 PM
To: jagtx@ranchosantiago.com
Subject: Re: IMA MAIL ON AG - GEN
Member of Congress
Update Response:
Dear Dr. Gamble:
Thank you for contacting me about recent efforts to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.
As you may know, while serving as Texas Attorney General, I concluded that Chapter 149 of the Texas Agriculture Code banned the production and transfer of horse meat for human consumption. Accordingly, District Attorneys in Tarrant and Kaufman counties sued to stop two processors in Texas from producing horse meat at their facilities. In return, these facilities won on appeal to the federal court in Dallas. However, upon further appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the original intent of Chapter 149 of Texas' Agriculture Code. As a result, horse meat is no longer being processed for human consumption in Texas.
Although Congress has considered legislation that would have banned commerce for horses thought to be transported for slaughter and human consumption, I believe one consequence of such legislation would have been the devaluation of a horse-owner’s property in the event an owner sells an animal. I do not believe the federal government should infringe upon citizens' property rights by declaring a horse-owner's property valueless without just compensation. Thus, I am opposed to such efforts and will vote against similar measures should they be considered during the 111th Congress.
I appreciate the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
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