A3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 23, 1993 Federal Protection Sought For People Who Use Animals (Continued from Page A 1) use industry and “key” in ensuring the passage of the Animal Enter prise Protection Act of 1992. On Monday, Lang and the Hcr shey Medical Center administra tion opened up the research center for use by Rep. Gekas and several representatives of agricultural and biomedical research support orga nizations, so they could hold a press conference to announce the introduction of a proposed amend ment to the Animal Enterprise Pro tection Act. Gekas told the group that a study by the Justice Department had indicated a growing trend in vio lent acts against the people who use animals, instead of the institutions. “Animal rights terrorism is a growing underground movement which must be stopped,” Gekas said. “My legislation is offered based on die findings of a Septem ber 1993 report issued by the Jus tice and Agriculture departments which documents this growing trend of personal victimization.” Although a copy of the report was not available by presstime, Gekas said it states, “the most dis turbing pattern to emerge during the period in question was that individuals and their personal property were targeted with incres ing frequency.” The six-term representative of the 17th District said the report also states, “all of the extremist acts that have been directed against individual researchers have involved either threats against their person or family members or vandalism to their personal proper ty or both." In an effort to curb such activity, Gekas has proposed addressing the problem by including wording that basically repeals the protections now afforded farms, livestock yards, zoos, and research facilities against terrorists, but specifically states that people involved in the operation of animal-use facilities are likewise protected. Gekas said he was “confident” that his measure would serve as a “preventative and deterrent” to the personal attacks. His measure is also supported U.S. Rep. George Gekas stands with Dr. Max Lang, head of biomedical research at Hershey Medical Center, George Prophet, a surgeon's assistant, and Or. Alan Snyder, an engineer, during a tour of the research facility. The young Holstein steer, “Lenny,” is the research subject in the study of an artificial heart. by Americans For Medical Prog ress Inc., an Arlington, Va.-based organization that supports the edu cation of laypcople as to the truth about medical research and the use of animals. It’s president, Susan E. Paris, provided media with information packets that included a fact sheet that debunks animal rightist rhetoric. In fact, according to Paris’s data, “humans are used in medical research far more often than animals.” Among those who on Monday called attention to the agricultural benefit of the proposal and sup ported Gekas was Janet Carson, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Farmers Association/Farm Bureau. She and Kenneth Brandt, found er and representative of Pennsyl vanians for Responsible Use of Animals (PRUA), and Brenda Shambaugh, lobbyist for the Pen nsylvania State Grange, look turns making statements about their respective organization’s support for the proposal. Gekas said he has strong support for the measure and was optimistic that it would be passed. However, not everyone in agri culture is sure that Gekas’s propos al is needed. Or even desired. - Steve Kopperud, lobbyist and vice president of the American Feed Industry Association, said that the APIA position is that, while the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act was and is a neces sary and Important protection for those whose property has been put at risk by animal rights terrorism (including farmeis), the amend ment proposed by Gekas doesn’t provide any additional protection to people. He said that while the proposed amendment is specific in address ing protections for people, existing laws already provide those protec tions, therefore, it is perceived as over-legislation. He said this is especially so, because, as of yet, there have been no court cases which would require the amendment and. in the AFIA’s viewpoint, no logical rea- From the left, those who support federal legislative proposals to protect people who use animals are, from the left, Brenda Shambaugh, with Pennsylvania State Grange, Susan Paris, president of the Americans For Medical Progress, Inc.', Kenneth Brandt, with Pennsylvanians for Responsible Animal Use, U.S. Rep. George Gekas, who proposed the legislation, and Jan Carson, with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. son to suspect that prosecutors biomedical facility offered a tour would use the law if it were passed. 0 f fa facilities, where research is “We have the greatest respect ongoing for finding cures for ter for Gekas,” Kopperud said during minal and cripling diseases, a Thursday telephone interview As department head, Lang has from his Washington, D.C. office. f or years been open to press inquir “lf not for him, we wouldn’t j es a nd tours of the biomedical have the fundamental law (Animal research facilities, in an effort to Enterprise Protection Act) at all. allow the public to better under- But we just think it’s premature.” stand the strict rules and regula- Koppcmd explained that the key for getting the AEP Act passed was the lack of legal protection afforded animal enterprise operations However, he said this lime it’s different, because there are many laws on the books which cover ter rorism, vandalism, assault, and other forms of personal attack. In a newsletter he publishes, Kopperud said the APIA, and the National Association for Biomedi cal Research, among others are looking more to see “how existing state law such as anti-stalking laws, forinstance can be effec tively used to provide enhanced personal protections ■ for animal enterprise employees.” The newsletter further states that “the Department of Justice has been asked to create a model state bill to protect individuals against harassment and ‘stalking,’ and APIA will continue to research ways in which this model can pro vide more protection for individuals.” Following the news briefing, Lang and personnel of the Hershey Paul Campbell prepares to drive. jrves toras Gary Stewart, left, and Earl Rohrer discuss harvesting procedures. rn Test Plots Harvested SMOKETOWN (Lancaster Co.) —Tfie test plot com harvest machine moved forward a short distance, stopped, weighed and moisture-tested the shelled com, filed the information in the compu ter and moved on again. This sequ ence of short moves was repeated many times last Friday as the Agri- Pro lest plots for P. L. Rohrer & Bro., Inc., were checked for yields. Gary Stewart from Brookston, Illi nois, and Paul Campbell from Rohrers had a full day’s work to shell and test 830 plots that were grown just east of Intercourse. The plots represented research on var ieties that may become future seed offerings. In addition, 140 plots were demonstrations. The local test plots arc represen tions and the professional moral and ethical codes which are in place for those who conduct biomedical research with animals. On Monday, it was evident that the hospital has upped security around the facility as only invited media who parked in an assigned and guarded parking lot were admitted to the conference. talive of the 100,000 test plots AgriPro had across the nation. Stewart sees a lot of different areas in the country where com is grown as he travels on the job as a research corn breeder. And he sees the 1993 com as “not quite as large a crop as expected.” It’s so variable from state to state and even within counties,” Stewart said. “A wet spring and the floods and droughts of the summer will affect the crop. It’s 100 early to know exactly what the frost will do in some areas where the com was planted late. As for seed com supplies, Stew art thinks there will be adequate supplies of most varieties. Any deficiencies will be made up in winter production in warm climates.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers