OPINION/COMMENTARY

Bear Lobby Mauls First Amendment

One of the arguments in favor of public broadcasting was that public TV would be independent and willing to take risks. But New Jersey public television has yanked a documentary because it upset the animal rights movement. The film, titled, "Bears: Too Close for Comfort," could possibly have saved lives by alerting people in New Jersey to the very real threat posed by black bears, some weighing 500 pounds, on the prowl for food. Marauding black bears in the state are attacking people, including young children. The New Jersey Network (NJN) for public television had agreed to run the film, and had heavily promoted it. But under attack by activists who believe we should peacefully co-exist with bears who may want to maul us, NJN pulled the film. Accuracy in Media reviewed the film. It is dramatic in the sense that stories about bear attacks on human beings are, by their nature, gripping and frightening. Some involve bears breaking into peoples' back yards, attacking family pets, and actually invading homes....

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