NJ Gov Signs Horse Slaughter Ban!

NEW LAW PROHIBITS SLAUGHTER OR SALE OF HORSE MEAT IN NEW JERSEY 

Update September 21, 2012: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed the state ban on horse slaughter for human consumption into law! New Jersey joins California, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Mississippi in effectively banning horse slaughter for human consumption.  For more on this new law, read Animal Law Coalition’s reports below. Also, take time to call Gov. Christie at 609-292-6000 and thank him for his courage in standing up for the horses!

Update June 26, 2012: The New Jersey Senate has voted 35-4 to ban horse slaughter for human consumption in that state. New Jersey state Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Fred H. Madden, Jr. were the senate sponsors. A. 2023 was substituted for the Senate version and is now the number of the New Jersey bill to ban slaughter of horses for human consumption that goes to Gov. Chris Christie for his approval. 

For more on this bill, read Animal Law Coalition’s reports below.

Update May 27, 2012: Senate Version

The Senate version is S. 1976, a bill to ban horse slaughter in New Jersey, is now in the Senate Economic Growth Committee. The senate version is sponsored by New Jersey state Senators Ronald J. Lesniak and Fred H. Madden, Jr.  Call Gov. Chris Christie at 609-292-6000 and urge him to support a ban on horse slaughter.

For more on this read R.T. Fitch’s Straight from the Horse’s Heart. 

Original report: Sending a strong message that New Jersey does not eat horse meat, the General Assembly approved bipartisan legislation that would ban the slaughter or sale of horses for human consumption.

Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer, R-Ocean, Burlington , Middlesex and Mercer, introduced the measure, A-2023, after a federal ban was lifted last fall that reverses a 2006 decision by Congress to withdraw funding to inspect plants that butchered horses – effectively banning horse consumption.

"New Jersey does not eat horse meat and our horses will not be taken from the stable to a table," Dancer said. "The horse is New Jersey’s state animal and we appreciate these magnificent animals for their grace and beauty. We do not want them butchered or sold to slaughterhouses in our communities for human consumption."

The bill would prohibit anyone from knowingly slaughtering or selling a horse for human consumption. A committee amendment would also make it a crime to knowingly transport horses for slaughter or transport horsemeat or other products for human consumption. Violators would be guilty of a disorderly persons offense with penalties up to $100 and 30 days imprisonment plus civil fines between $500 and $1,000 for each horse slaughtered or each carcass or meat product sold. The penalties and fines are consistent with the current state law in effect that bans the slaughter of man’s best friend, the dog, for human consumption of dog meat.

Although there is strong bipartisan support in Congress to resume the federal ban through the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, Dancer pointed to New Mexico where a slaughterhouse is trying to open and has an application pending before the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"New Jersey is taking the lead on this issue to make sure horses aren’t taken from the pasture to the plate," Dancer said. "There are several organizations that provide adoption homes for horses, rather than sending them to slaughterhouses for their meat."

It has bipartisan support from Assemblymen Gilbert "Whip" Wilson and Nelson Albano.