Proper handling or animal abuse? Bill may protect farmers from false claims

Image courtesy Tennessee Cattlemen Association, which supports the animal cruelty bill.

The Tennessee Senate has approved requiring video of livestock abuse to be turned over to police within 48 hours.

The measure is intended to stop animal rights groups from doing long-term undercover investigations, like the one that led to the conviction of a Tennessee walking horse trainer.

Instead of party lines, it’s largely an urban/rural divide separating lawmakers.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Memphis tried to slow down the proposal by requiring anyone who witnessed animal cruelty to go to law enforcement.

“Look, you’re either opposed to animal abuse or you’re not,” he said on the Senate floor.

But abuse isn’t so clear cut to farmers. People might mistakenly think they’re seeing abuse, says Sen. Charlotte Burks (D-Monterey).

“Sometimes people don’t understand the proper handling of livestock,” she said. “I mean sometimes they’re so stubborn they don’t want to move.”

The legislation dubbed by the Humane Society as an “ag gag bill” has not yet been voted on by the full House.