May 16, 2007
Katy Senator tries to legalize horse slaughtering
The 80th Texas Legislature is proving to be one of the zaniest yet. This week, Senator Glenn Hegar, a Republican from Katy, amended a bill to allow for legalized horse slaughtering in Texas. The bill, SB 911 (ha ha), along with Hegar's amendment, would allow the sale of horsemeat for human consumption, if the animals are tested by the commission. But isn't that illegal in Texas? Well, Hegar has only the most humane interests.
He argued that "right now, tragically, animals are just left out in the field or they're shipped off to Mexico," where the inhumane treatment is "probably pretty severe." Hegar would rather just slaughter horses here, where we can feel good about what we're doing because it's in our control.
Skip Trimble of the Texas Humane Legislation Network saw things a little differently. Trimble noted that the Department of Agriculture indicates no correlation between reduction in horse slaughter here and the exportation of animals to other countries for slaughter. He called the amendment "an obvious attempt to legalize horse slaughter in Texas without going through the normal channels that legislation goes through."
Right now, the bill is out of committee, with the amendment, but Trimble and his organization are confident that it will be killed by animal rights advocates in the House.
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Dear Houstonist,
Thanks for running the article on Tx state Senator Hegar, and our struggle to end horse slaughter for elite human consumption here in the US. Obviously Mr. Hegar is getting his wallet greased real good, and I have a feeling that this will be his last political position after what's he's pulled, he'll be ousted next election. He's evil and wicked and doesn't care one iota for upholding the will of the Texas people and the people of the US. Slaughter is about money, supply and demand. Prices on horses have gone up, not down since we closed the slaugherhouses in Texas. There are not skinny wandering horses, there's not any more abuse cases than usual, which I must say the pro's don't give a darn about in their everyday life. Every pro myth can be easily dispelled. Horse pucky on Hegar and his cronies.
This is the kind of elitist sneaky legislation our forefathers were disgusted by. A handful of overpaid, underhanded politicians standing up for losers, drifters, con artists, thieves and ignoring honest, hard working, tax paying real horse owners.
Disgraceful!!
Becky
This smells of the Conrad Burns approach to politics and lawmaking. Dirty politics and deceitful ways to thwart the laws of the land. Disgusting!!!
Yes, I can see where butchering horses here is such a better death than butchering them elsewhere. Somehow, the magic of the captive bolt, scent of blood from those gone before and having one's throat slit is so much more pleasant on this side of the border.
Any legislator supporting slaughter supports their own wallet, NOT their constituents. The numbers against horse slaughter speak pretty darned clearly.
We slaughter pigs, chickens, cows, ducks, fish, etc. so what makes the horse unacceptable? Are you going to lobby against the rest of the livestock industry as well now?
Sen. Glenn Hegar, We need to take you out and do you how they are doing all them horses. Evidently you never owed a horse before. They are one of Gods creatures. If anyone needs slaughteres it's people that want to legalize horse slaughter.
...totally agree with nick...while not my favotite "cut of beef", animal protein is animal protein...but oh-oh, "if anyone needs slaughteres it's people that want to legalize horse slaughter"....looks like mary and the peta crowd have weighed in...lol...
Sorry, Nick and Artthou, but horses are not quite the same as the others in that horses are generally used and viewed as companion animals by the general populace rather than as "livestock". Even "livestock" deserves humane treatment and a full life. Who says we are right to be killing any of them?
Additionally, the world at large would be better off with a LOT less meat consumption and a lot more veggies and fruits. Why the heck do you think Americans have so much disease??? MEAT. There are plenty of other ways to get your needed protein besides animal flesh.
But, in your typical ignorance, you belittle people who defend animals instead of educating yourselves about the damage, both in human and animal terms, killing and eating them brings. Go to google videos and look up the movie "Earthlings". WATCH IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. Maybe then, you'll have the right to speak on such things.