Bush Signs Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
By Stewart N. Thorpe

On Nov. 25, President Bush signed amendments into law of the "Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act" that expands criminal prohibitions for violent and non-violent threats against animal enterprises and increases legal penalties for violations.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act renames and amends the obscure 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act, a section under Title 18 of criminal code.

AEPA was first used six years later in 1998 and charged Peter Young and Justin Samuel with animal enterprise terrorism for their releasing of thousands of minks at Wisconsin fur farms. The second time AEPA was used was in May 2004 when seven activists — Kevin Kjonaas, Lauren Gazzola, Jacob Conroy, Joshua Harper, Andrew Stepanian, Darius Fullmer and John McGee — were arrested and charged with "conspiracy to violate the Animal Enterprise Protection Act". The seven activists ran a website that reported on and encouraged underground activists of a group calling itself Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. SHAC aims to shut down Huntingdon Life Sciences that, according to Greenpeace, has a record of violating animal welfare laws and kills 500 animals a day.

Sen. Orrin Hatch has become a vocal supporter for tougher amendments against illegal activities by animal rights activists. In 1999, Hatch introduced an amendment that would have increased penalties under AEPA and also create a database of "eco-terrorism" crimes. For Hatch's efforts in 1999, Americans for Medical Progress, a political advocacy organization for animal testing, said in a press release by their president, "We are grateful to Senator Hatch for taking a leadership role in protecting biomedical research."

AMP's board of directors includes many members from the biomedical industry involved with animal testing, such as Robert D. Gunnels, DVM, a MS Director of Comparative Medicine from Pfizer. Pfizer supported Hatch with $43,000 in his 2004 campaign and $35,998 in his 2000 campaign. Before Hatch attempted to introduce his 1999 amendment, Pfizer only donated $6,000 to Hatch for his 1996 campaign and $2,000 for his 1998 campaign. Pfizer's practices with animals has been criticized by animal welfare and animal rights advocates.

In a press release, AETA'S financial aspects were acknowledged by supporters Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) to "ensure that important animal enterprises, like biomedical industries, stay in California, for example, rather than go to India or China." According to sources at the China's Ministry of Science and Technology, as of 2005, China was establishing 20 major research and development centers and 10 biotech centers with $30 billion in excess output.

Alex Hershaft, co-founder of Equal Justice Alliance, has criticized the House passing the expanded AETA on Nov. 17 because it was voted more than three hours earlier than it was scheduled and with only six representatives present. Because only a voice vote was counted, there is also no official record of who voted. Hershaft wrote online, "we generated an overwhelming outpouring of opposition to the bill on short notice, and they kicked us in the face through underhanded maneuvers." According to Equal Justice Alliance, many biomedical enterprises that promoted AETA are also repeat violators of existing federal laws for animal welfare.

Over 180 animal welfare and rights organizations oppose AETA and several of its 2006 amendments such as listing as terrorism "non-violent physical obstruction offense" which "does not result in bodily injury, death, property damage or loss" (i.e. sit-ins, trespassing, or blockades) if it causes profit losses of at least $10,000. Another amendment also provides a fine and imprisonment up to a year for offenses against the animal enterprise industry that do not involve intimidation, bodily injury, death, or economic damage.