Frank Losey: Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act can protect ranchers

“Hang onto your hats; if you care for animals with two legs or four legs, you are a target of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS),” warned Frank Losey, an attorney who has been active in fighting HSUS abuse of non-profit status most recently in the Missouri Proposition B effort. “The HSUS political agenda is to destroy the traditional American culture. It’s not just dogs, cats, pigs, chickens or cattle. It’s our American culture; it’s farmers and ranchers.”

This was Losey’s opening statement at the 2011 Summit of the Horse, an event held Jan. 3-6 in Las Vegas, NV. Losey spoke during a session titled, “The U.S. Horse Industry – Protecting our horseback cultures and livelihoods,” in which he unveiled the true agendas of this anti-agriculture organization.

“HSUS has demonstrated an ability to destroy the image of so many wonderful and caring people,” added Losey. “They have deceived the American public. It feeds on itself and builds on itself. They can orchestrate the confiscation of your animals. They can sue you, destroy you and take away your freedom to own animals that you have cared for and loved your entire life. They can force you to deplete all your resources to defend yourself. They are like the school yard bully. They are so successful because they have an obscene about of money. They have a propaganda and lobbying machine unlike anything else.”

Scared? Losey said instead of focusing on the problem, there are a few solutions to dealing with HSUS.

“If anyone engages in interstate commerce to mess up your life, you may have a violation there,” said Losey, who referenced the materials found in the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). “Tell your story. If you don’t know your local sheriff; shame on you. Share a copy of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act with your local police. Most people don’t even know about this act. Invite the sheriff out to your ranch, so the next time an animal rights activist comes into his office, he will tell the HSUS to get the heck out of his office.”

The AETA prohibits any person from using force, violence, or threats “for the purpose of damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise.” The law does not “prohibit any expressive conduct (including peaceful picketing or other peaceful demonstration) protected from legal prohibition by the First Amendment to the Constitution.”

The AETA is certainly something Losey hopes producers will share with their friends and neighbors who may become future targets of the HSUS. He also believes the more informed law officials are about this act, the more prepared they will be in unlawful situations with animal rights activists, which Losey said happens more often than not.

In addition, the AETA specifically addresses the tertiary targeting system used by animal rights activists by prohibiting any person from intentionally damaging the property of a person or entity having a connection to an animal enterprise. It also increases the existing penalties for intentionally causing a person bodily injury or intentionally placing a person in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury; includes penalties based on the amount of economic damage caused; and allows animal enterprises to seek restitution.

“HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle thinks AETA is an unjust law,” said Losey. “Do yourself a favor, circulate that and understand it. Also, if you are involved with an incident, write a letter to the FBI. Say you have been bullied and explain the incident. We can generate thousands of e-mails, phone calls and letters to the FBI.”

This call-to-action is a result of many producers who have been bullied by HSUS, and Losey hopes to prevent this in the future. And, although his statements are bold, he isn’t too concerned about the repercussions of his speech.

“If there are anybody here that are animal rights sympathizers, my name is Frank Losey and my comments are covered by the AETA,” he closed.

editor’s note: for more information on the aeta, visit http://www.hsdl.org/?view&doc=79464&coll=limited.