WHAT IS (AETA) THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT?
The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is a bill which seeks to amend the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act (AEPA – PL 102-346), a section under Title 18 of the criminal code which protects animal enterprises from illegal acts comitted by animal activists. The AETA bill (S 3880) recently passed in the Senate on Sept. 30th, 2006, was introduced by Mr. Inhofe (R-OK), Mrs. Feinstein (D-CA), Mr. Thune (R-SD), and Mr. Isakson (R-GA). Its counter-part is currently pending in the House (H.R. 4239) and will be voted on sometime in November after congress reconvenes from recess on November 9th. WHY AETA IS NOT GOOD FOR US • AETA risks having a chilling effect on First Amendment protected speech for everyone including law abiding citizens, who risk being tarnished a terrorist even if wrongfully charged. On the chance that a law-abiding citizen wins his/her case, the damage to their reputation will already be done. Appeals often take years. • Anyone engaging in non-violent civil disobedie
