Jackson Jambalaya

Sorry if this has already been covered but...please educate me. What is Farm Bureaus stake in this? Why do they object to this legislation? What are their (claimed)concerns?

KF can give you a more detailed, "this is what they said" kind of answer, but I have never been able to make a bit of sense out of their opposition. They -- as represented by David Waide -- seem to think that protecting your dog or my cat from heinous abuse will somehow lead to vegan-type restrictions on farming.

Totally putting aside the fact that argumentation based on a slippery-slope theory has no logic whatsoever, all the bills have been written very clearly to exempt farming from the kinds of protections for domestic pets.

It's really pretty insulting to most Mississippians -- that we are so dumb that once pets are protected we are all going to stop eating beef and pork, stop showering, start wearing hemp clothing, and protest at their farms or something. Apparently they think that if you don't own a farm, you are just one bill-signing away from becoming a Berkley hippie.

The crime preventative element of this legislation is totally overlooked by them. It's been shown over and over that people who are willing to commit the most heinous crimes against other people usually start with the abuse of pets. It would be nice to catch these sickos before they move on to a man, woman, or child -- but Farm Bureau sees this as opening the door to shutting down Mississippi farms.

As I said, it makes NO sense at all.

Here is a recent article. Good place to start.

Didn't David Waide also say that charging someone with felony animal abuse would be on their record for the rest of their life.

Poor animal abuser wouldn't want anyone to know about his disgusting and vile past.

Sounds like Waide had more compassion for the abuser than the victim.
How warped can this be?

Once again, I challenge ANYONE from the FB to answer this question: If laws punishing people who abuse animals hurts meat, corn, and soybean production the first two times someone does it (or gets caught at it...), why does it NOT hurt meat, corn, and soybean production the third time??? This is the best argument I can come up with. Any takers on this?
Signed, Kim Wolford

Yes, 9:33 am., Waide did also stick up for felons in a radio interview. His comment was that an animal abuser should not be charged with a felony because it would then be difficult for that animal abuser to find, quote, "a good paying job." Like one in a nursing home, school, or home healthcare. Other Waide comments include that a law protecting dogs and cats would negatively impact soybean and corn production, and that a law protecting dogs and cats is, in actuality, a plot by "radicals" to first make us all vegetarians, then ensure that we all buy our food overseas. I am not making these statements up, nor am I taking them out of context. It is amazing to me that Farm Bureau members have continued to allow Waide to speak for them on this issue.
SIgned, Marlo Kirkpatrick

Several years ago I called to report some people who were raising cocks for fighting. A law enforcement person who worked with MARL told me Mississippi's law against cockfighting was so weak as to be unenforceable. He further said that there was not much chance of getting a stronger law because so many of the legislators came from farming communities where their constituents and they themselves happily engaged in the sport.

And, obviously this is why these "good ole boys" who participate in these violent and heinous acts don't want a law passed! So, maybe it is time to elect some officials who 1) have some sense, 2) aren't contributing to the violent activities, and 3) can actually read and comprehend what people want!

Apparently, Waide doesn't know we don't eat dogs and cats since this bill is not a bill about livestock. Or, he does and has an unrelated agenda.

This should be a cautionary tale. Mr. Waide is not the only " person in position of authority" out there who uses his " pulpit" to spew misinformation either out of ignorance, to enhance his power by creating fear of outside influences with his followers, or for unrelated, hidden personal reasons .

The members of the Farm Bureau should be either embarrassed to have placed either a liar or idiot like Waide in that position or be insulted that Waide believes them to be so gullible...or both.

But, at any rate, when your leader lies to you ,it's because he thinks your dumb enough to believe anything he says.