Terrorism bill would stiffen penalties for animal rights threats
A terrorism bill would add Ohio to a growing number of states seeking harsher penalties for attacks by animal rights activists and environmentalists, including those against dog food makers, farms where animals are caged and university animal labs. Arson, vandalism, assault, break-ins and other tactics used by extremists already are illegal. A national group of conservative state lawmakers has been promoting laws creating a separate offense of ecoterrorism since 2003, when California passed such a law. Similar bills have died in Texas and Arizona, and others are pending in Pennsylvania, New York and Missouri. Full Story