Horse Slaughter Imminent in Tennessee: Tennessee Residents Take Action NOW!
Nikki | Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee Rep. Frank Nicely is back this session with another effort to smooth the way for a horse slaughterhouse to open in the state. House Bill 3619 just cleared the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee and could be scheduled for a vote by the full House at any time.
Until the committee hearing the bill simply directed the agriculture commissioner to post and keep current statistics and other information required to be collected about equines and to provide that information upon request to the Tennessee Equine Association.
Harmless enough, except that during the committee hearing on March 13, 2012, Nicely introduced amendments under a new declaration that “the General Assembly intends to encourage the location of equine slaughter and processing facilities in Tennessee that meet…requirements”. The new provisions approved by the committee would make it more difficult to challenge issuance of a permit for a horse slaughter facility by requiring a bond equal to 20% of the estimated cost of building the facility or operational costs, if those can be determined. Venue would be limited to the court where the facility is located and not also where the defendant can be found or does business.
A challenger would be required to pay the slaughter facility’s legal fees and court costs if a court finds the suit was without merit or brought for an “improper purpose” including harassment, delay or interference. If a plaintiff does not prevail ultimately after obtaining an injunction, the plaintiff “is liable for all financial losses the facility suffers” as a result of an injunction halting operations.
The bill is similar to a Montana law passed in 2009.
WHAT YOU CAN DO | WHOM TO CONTACT
If you live in Tennessee, find your state legislators here. Write or call now and urge them to vote NO on H.B. 3619.
Click HERE for access to free faxing from your computer. No fax machine, registering, or credit card required. Be sure to click the fax confirmation link in your email so your fax delivery will succeed.
SAMPLE MESSAGE
Please vote NO on H.B. 3619. I, and the 70% of Americans who do not support horse slaughter, will not consider voting for any congressperson who supports horse slaughter, or transport to horse slaughter, in any manner; I will only vote for candidates who vote NO on H.B. 3619.
we shake our heads we want to rant
why would any state want horse slaughter plants
animals are not commodities
yet compassion is treated like an oddity
we will not sit back we will not yield
until there is an end to these killing fields
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
Our Compass 
shame on tennessee for even thinking about opening a horse slaughter plant, horses are not for food, remember in the bible where it says we are to eat only animals with a split hoof? i do. we are no 3rd world country and there is plenty of cows , just look at all the land taken away from our wild mustangs so more cows can live in there place. the only people who want horse slaughter plants are the greedy money hungry people for a quick buck. shame AMERICA has come to this, and shame on the 3 senators who passed this in the first place and mr. obama for allowing it to be passed even after he promised in his campaign speech he would not allow it. this country is really getting out of control. ashamed to be called american right now, all the innocent animals have to suffer and die for the ol mighty $$$$$.
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I agree, Sharon, it really is beyond shameful. Thank you for your input.
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I am a Canadian and I am very sad regarding the horseslaughter business…just as bad here…very cruel the way they do it also.
Keep contacting your Congressmen and good luck.
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Thank you so much, Jane.
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we shake our heads we want to rant
why would any state want horse slaughter plants
animals are not commodities
yet compassion is treated like an oddity
we will not sit back we will not yield
until there is an end to these killing fields
LikeLike
This vile politician, Frank Nicely, has been shipping horses to Canada and Mexico. I had the “pleasure” of speaking to this monster who has no trouble sleeping at night nor looking at his miserable reflection in the mirror, while these animals are meeting their unthinkable fate! Nicely is just one example of a present day Hilter.
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Some people are just blank of a soul and completely blind to the cruelty they perpetrate. There is no other explanation for how they can continue spreading so much suffering.
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Present- day Hitler? Please, you’re just another imbacile who thinks that horse- slaughter is “bad” because you enjoy horses. This plant is not, in any way, a bad thing.
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OMG ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING ! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE.? I HATE THIS LIFE FOR ANIMALS MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. NO EXCUSE, NO REASON, AND ALL ABOUT MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. WELL I DO BELIEVE IN KARMA, SO LETS PRAY THAT WHO EVER PLAYS ANY PART IN THIS SLAUGHTER OF HORSES THAT THEY GET THEIRS SOONER THAN LATER!
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Tennessee residents should read up on what slaughter houses do to their areas in regard to increased crime and pollution. A really dirty industry.
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The bill is much needed to help protect these animals. Horses that are evaluated and deemed to not be recoverable should be put down in an controlled and humane environment. Why should these horses suffer on everyones 1/2 acre or less starving to death. No one can afford grain or hay but they can afford that free animal that suffers the rest of its life. As well the plants will create jobs. The Hermingston plant is proposing to hire 50 to 100 people.
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