Animal rights groups seek veto of Utah's ‘ag-gag’ bill

While showing gruesome video of abused farm animals taken by undercover activists, animal rights groups called Friday for Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to veto a bill that would outlaw such snooping. "If this bill is signed into law, we will challenge it all the way to the Supreme Court," Nathan Runkle, executive director of Mercy for Animals, said in a Salt Lake City press conference. The Legislature this week passed HB187 by Rep. John Mathis, R-Vernal, a veterinarian. It would ban photographing farm animals or operations without permission or "under false pretenses," and could lead to jail sentences of up to a year and/or fines of up to $2,500 for violators. Animal rights groups call it the "ag-gag" bill for seeking to outlaw undercover investigations...more