Slaughter Debate in Texas

"A bill proposing to prohibit the slaughter, trade or transport of horses for human consumption has the support of more than half the U.S. House – 225 Democrats and Republicans, enough to pass the legislation. But bill supporters are looking to the Senate to move the bill, possibly in agriculture appropriations, to force the measure into conference committee discussions.

But the effort has been stymied by opposition from the two most powerful members of the House Agriculture Committee, chairman Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, and ranking Democrat Charlie Stenholm, a Texas Democrat."

WFAA.Com - Dallas/Ft. Worth News
06-25-2004

The article "Texas at Center of Horse Slaughter Debate" [WFAA.Com - Dallas/Ft. Worth News], June 25, 2004, clearly exposes Representatives Goodlatte and Stenholm as men with too much power, both refusing to perform their responsibilities of representing the voice of the people. They are also denying the other members of Congress the right to debate and vote on HR857 (The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act).

Bob Goodlatte has publicly stated that he feels the American people are too uneducated about this bill, and despite 91% of Americans polled who are against horse slaughter for human consumption, Goodlatte has decided to disregard their opinion, choosing instead, to hold this bill in his committee where he says he will kill it, effectively disregarding his duty, which is to represent the people's voice. He is representing only himself.

One wonders what his motives must be, especially when this bill has 224 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. He is holding on to this bill so that not even the other members of the House may consider voting on it. Does he also think that his fellow members of Congress are too ignorant and should not be allowed to act on behalf of the people they are working to represent? There is no honor in this man.

There are many other twists in his stories and lies about how great slaughter is, but people are not that stupid. 91% of them don't agree with Goodlatte. But, he is the one with the power to hold on to this bill. How did he get this much power? Hitler had this much power. He exterminated Jews. Goodlatte is exterminating horses.

Stenholm follows Goodlatte's lead and when debate proves his arguements false, he just repeats himself over and over again. These two give us an up close view of crooked politicians filled with lies, and lacking of respect or any moral decency.

The answers are so clear - people in America don't want foreign owned companies here slaughtering our horses.

Stenholm stated that "people in other countries do eat horsemeat and they are hungry". People in other countries do not eat horse meat beacause they are hungry. The hungry cannot afford horsemeat. It is only for the wealthy (at least $15.00-$25.00 lb).

America does not make a profit from horsemeat - there is no tariff on horsemeat. The three slaughter houses here in America are foreign owned. They send out their kill buyers to auctions, buy fat, healthy, young horses, which are easily acquired since they usually have sufficient funds suppiled by the slaughter house. Some horses are stolen, some are ex-race horses. The slaughter plants don't care where the horses are from. And even though they know that Americans don't eat horsemeat, they are being protected by politicians who have provided them with security.

Americans are only just now finding out about slaughter. The secret is out. The lies can not cover up the secret any more. The truth is so easy. Like:

Horsemeat is unsafe to consume. Horses, not being raised for food, are given medications, wormers, vaccinations etc., which makes their meat unhealthy. Contrary to popular opinion, dog food companies have not used horse meat for years because we don't want our pets to eat unhealthy horsemeat. And the foreigner eating the meat? Oh well, they laugh at us while they eat our pets. I guess our politicians covering all this up, have also been keeping secrets from the foreigners, too.

Oh, and another good arguement: If we ban horse slaughter, horses will be abused and neglected?

We already have laws that make it a criminal offense to abuse and neglect animals. If we ban horse slaughter, the difference will be that the abuser didn't get a chance to be paid and rewarded for his crime. Responsible people are responsible. Abusers are abusers. Banning horse slaughter will not turn responsible people into abusers. Abusers probably will not turn into responsible people, but at least they might not be as abusive if the government enforced the laws already in effect instead giving them a way out with a few extra dollars.

And if the captive bolt [method of horse slaughter] is so humane... then why don't veterinarians use and recommend this means of death for all of our other beloved pets as well?

Next, just view a horse slaughter video. The horror of watching the terror and the ultimate betrayal of this magnificent and noble animal who has served mankind so well, and yes, is his pet, should not be served as dinner for foreigners, who can still eat horses (just not America's horses) even with the passage of HR 857.

If Stenholm or Goodlatte had really educated themselves on this issue they would have known that the American Horse is the only animal this bill concerns itself with. They can still go home and eat whatever they want to. (As long as it is not America's horses - not any of America's pets!) They can even go to France and eat a horse!

- Valerie James-Patton
CA

response to Texas at Center of Horse Slaughter Debate
06-25-2004
reprinted with author's permission

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