THE AMERICAN HORSE LAUGHTER PREVENTION ACT

摘要

Federal legislation is currently pending in Congress which, if enacted, would make it a federal offense to transport horses for the purpose of slaughter for human consumption. Californians chose to step up for their horses in 1998, when they enacted the initiative which criminalizes the transportation of horses for human consumption. However, California is unable to protect all of America's horses on its own and needs the support of federal law so that persons crossing state lines will also be penalized. Horse slaughter will only end in the United States when the American people are made fully aware of its existence and place pressure on lawmakers to stop it. Americans in the past have made efforts to protect their wild horses, burros, and Mustangsfrom being killed for pet food and providing refuge where they could exist without further persecution, yet Americans have failed to enforce these regulations. Irresponsible horse ownership is the main reason why horse slaughter has thrived over the years and therefore is a major contributing factor to the cruelty suffered by horses whose lives end at the slaughter house.