In a little-reported ruling by a judge in the District of Columbia earlier this month, the HSUS is going to court to face charges under RICO statues on racketeering, obstruction of justice, malicious prosecution and other charges for a lawsuit it brought and lost against Ringling Brothers Circus’ parent company Feld Entertainment, Inc.
After winning the case alleging mistreatment of elephants in its circuses brought by Friends of Animals (later merged into HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), lawyers at Feld filed a countersuit with a litany of charges ranging from bribery to money laundering to racketeering. The attorneys for the animal rights groups asked the judge to dismiss all charges, but most remained because the evidence was overwhelming. So in early August, HSUS will be facing the music in a case that should attract the attention of hunters, ranchers, farmers and anyone impacted by HSUS’ radical animal rights agenda.
The HSUS may be radicals but forcing wild elephants to do tricks all their lives, and confining them in small quarters is wrong. Ultimately the HSUS is going to win the public relations battle and bring on the day when using wild animals for entertainment comes to and end. I am saying this as someone who will be cooking a large steak on the grill tonight, so no I’m not a tree hugging pinko.
TJ – you’re a victim already.
What’s a RICO statue? If it’s one of those busty female nudes I might get one myself.
Think of this as PETA/HSUS Free Wednesday.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/08/01/central-texas-chick-fil-a-sees-ten-fold-increase-in-business-today/
Rahm must be so choked.
Bear I’m just calling it as I see it and I think the HSUS will win the public relations battle. The idea of forcing wild animals to do tricks for entertainment is very passe.
TJ – you said but forcing wild elephants to do tricks all their lives, and confining them in small quarters is wrong
You don’t understand, my statement is a reference to your statement. You’re already a victim of their lies.
How gratifying to be at least able to hope that the ebb and flow of lawfare will go our way.
TJ confuses domesticated with wild critters….
He/She is a strange little person and gets my pity.
Rabbit @ 3:55
RICO: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Triple damages awarded if RICO is proved (ie you sued them fo $10 million, you automatically get $30 million if the RICO case is proved) plus provision for prison sentances (up to life) for directors and officers involved in the RICO.
It was developed to use against gangsters but has proven useful (and misuseful) against other organizations.
H/T Fred: It’s been a pretty good day, but reading this put it right up there. Love it.
Think of this as PETA/HSUS Free Wednesday.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/08/01/central-texas-chick-fil-a-sees-ten-fold-increase-in-business-today/
“…anyone impacted by HSUS’ radical animal rights agenda.”
That’s anyone who owns a pet or might like to someday.
TJ said: “The HSUS may be radicals but forcing wild elephants to do tricks all their lives, and confining them in small quarters is wrong.”
TJ, those are -Indian- elephants, as in from India, and they are no more wild than a Holstein cow. Fully domesticated work animals, have been for a really, really long time. Remember Hannibal crossing the Alps? Same deal.
Having them doing tricks and riding in the trailer is no different than a pony giving rides at the fair. Nobody thinks pony rides are inhuman animal torture except the fruitbat Left.
Norm:
Whoosh! (sound of joke going over your head)
If you want me to explain I will, but I know you can work it out for yourself.
My only point is that the HSUS and other radicals like PETA are winning the public relations battle. I don’t think this court case will change that one bit.
And to me it’s very obvious why they are winning the battle. The opposing side’s argument is always “it’s might right to do whatever I want with animals and if you disagree then you are left-wing nut”. It is a losing approach if ever there was one.
TJ 4:57
So we only fight the easy battles?
The opposing side’s argument is always “it’s might right to do whatever I want with animals and if you disagree then you are left-wing nut”.
Posted by: TJ at August 1, 2012 4:57 PM
Bullshit. That’s not the ‘opposing side’s’ argument at all.
The ‘opposing side’ knows full well that you can’t ‘do what you want’ with an animal – and fully supports the prosecution of practices that constitute true inhumane treatment. The operative word is true.
What the ‘opposing side’ does say, is that prosecuting animal owners for untrimmed horse’s hooves, burrs in a farm dog’s coat, or ribs showing on a 13 year-old cow is bullshit.
And I can’t speak for the HSUS – they may or may not be winning a hearts and minds campaign, but out here in rural Ontario the OSPCA has about as much respect as a wood tick.
Assume for a moment that the Humane Society, PETA and all the rest have the best of intentions toward an ideal. If that is so then according to the case referred to, they think it is alright to bribe, conspire, launder money and defame BECAUSE their intentions are good and there objectives ideal. Where have I heard this paradigm before??
HSUS & PETA’s long standing opinion is that NO ONE benefits from animals. Whether that’s through companionship, entertainment or through consumption.
An entire website just about this subject:
http://www.feldlawsuit.com/
It’s about time someone gave these meddling busybodies a good legal thrashing.
Terrific news, let the HSUS thugs have a taste of their own medicine.
TJ – you make a mistake in allowing Wayne Pacelle the judge as to what is animal cruelty. He is pushing a vegan agenda, the final destination of his ” animal cruelty ” sideshow is the end of beef , chicken, milk, etc.
He is a loon, let him be your spokesman, if you want. He is not mine, because his agenda has nothing to do with ending animal cruelty. That is just his come-on.
TJ, perhaps the elephants should be allowed to make the choice. Currently this would be either be pampered working in a circus, or gunned down by ivory poachers and having their tusks ripped out while still alive. I suspect the elephants would stay.
What OMMAG said.
Malicious prosecution – that’s another tool that should be available in the arsenal of people who have been dragged in front of a “human rights commission” on bogus grounds, which is almost all of them.