Whistle-blowers should not be punished

There's a deeply misguided, even immoral, effort afoot in the Iowa Legislature to enact laws punishing whistle-blowers who attempt to expose cruel, illegal animal abuse within certain segments of the livestock industry.

A handful of Iowa legislators have gone on record with an astonishing array of bizarre, downright Orwellian doublespeak to support their position that whistle-blowers working to ensure humane treatment of animals are terrorists. With no pretense of providing proof, these lawmakers have said that animal rights activists are deliberately harming animals in order to videotape their acts, then blaming innocent slaughterhouse owners and other livestock processors. The twisted, anti-logic at work here would be comical if it weren't so depressingly transparent, cynical and dishonest.

If the proponents of this proposal have their way, someone who videotapes animal abuse in Iowa will be charged with a Class C felony. Penalty: 10 years in prison. But those who actually commit these brutal, inhumane acts? Unless their crimes are actually captured on video or otherwise documented, they'll likely never face charges at all.

Livestock in Iowa supplies us with food and livelihoods. It's our responsibility as thoughtful, civilized human beings to ensure that these animals receive at least the most basic humane treatment. Whistleblowers should be applauded and legally protected when they expose animal abuse.

Christian Schoon

Cedar Rapids