Missouri House backs ban on barn photos

By The Associated Press

05.16.02

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Taking aim at animal-rights activists and undercover reporters, the Missouri House has passed a measure that would make it a crime to take pictures of animals in barns without an owner's permission.

The ban would apply to still or motion pictures of farm animals in barns or other areas where they are housed. Photographers could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

The animal photography measure was added to a larger agriculture bill. It now goes back to the Senate, which on May 13 had added a similar provision to a House-passed bill.

State Rep. Ken Legan, who sponsored the House amendment, said he doesn't approve of photographers on a mission to expose the supposed evils of farming. His amendment also would apply to animal-breeding facilities or any place that houses animals for agricultural, business or research purposes.

"They'd like to come in and take pictures and say how bad it is when in actuality (the animals) have never had it so good," Legan said.