U.S House Passes Permanent Horse Slaughter Ban

Nearly 100,000 horses are slaughtered annually for foreign palates.

In a key victory for protecting American horses from slaughter, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, by a vote of 263 to 146 on Sept. 7.

Passage of the bill marks a historic moment in a groundswell effort to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption abroad. More than 20,000 individuals told The HSUS that they called their representatives in the days leading up to the vote, urging their support of the bill. The callers added their voices to more than 500 organizations and editorial boards across the nation that have been calling for an end to the practice.

The legislation, which enjoyed more than 200 cosponsors and bipartisan support, was designed to stop the slaughter of nearly 100,000 American horses annually in three foreign-owned slaughter plants in the United States. Their meat is shipped overseas, primarily to France, Belgium and Japan, where it is considered a delicacy.

"What we are exposing today is a brutal, shadowy, shameful practice," said Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY), who introduced the bill along with Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), John Spratt (D-SC) and Nick Rahall (D-WV).

In the days leading up to the vote, the opposition stepped up efforts to defend the slaughter industry, but two amendments that would have gutted the bill were defeated in votes, and the day went to horses, lauded as an icon and symbol of American heritage.

"The horse is tied to the spirit of the American frontier," Rep. Whitfield told the house in debate. "Most importantly, the horse is a companion."

With the majority of Americans and the U.S. House of Representatives on the record supporting a permanent ban on horse slaughter, the Senate will now take up the bill for consideration.

“Horse slaughter is simply indefensible, and polls show that the vast majority of Americans agree,” HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle said. “As we build on today’s successful vote and take the debate to the Senate, we urge humane-minded citizens to call and write their senators and get this legislation passed once and for all.”

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All I can say is, About Fucking Time!!. This bill should've been passed a looooooong time ago! In fact, it shouldn't even take a bill to put a stop to such inhumane practices. It's just plain sick! That's what cows & chickens are for in the first place, to eat. You freaks don't need to eat horses for shits sake. It's not a fucking delicacy to eat horses, it's sick twisted shit, plain and simple and it shouldn't be allowed anywhere. I like this quoted from the above article: "The horse is tied to the spirit of the American frontier," Rep. Whitfield told the house in debate. "Most importantly, the horse is a companion.". Exactly, just like a dog is mans best friend a horse is too. Not food you fucking sickos. Well what am I saying, these lifeless freaks eat dogs too. Chicken fish & beef is just not good enough for them, they gotta eat dogs, cats & horses too. Nothing's good enough for these ppl, next they're eating their family members & shit. Well that's it for my rant...

UPDATE: Alrighty, I gotta explain myself a little more it seems. Too many ppl are misunderstanding me. Well here's a response to some1's email, this will better explain myself...:

(No no, that's not what im saying at all. what im saying is WE DON'T SLAUGHTER HORSES ANYMORE! That's all, i'm not raggin on other ppl eating "exotic" foods. I know america is "nothing but a meliting pot of foreigners". What I'm saying is EATING HORSES IS SOMETHING PPL IN OTHER COUNTRIES are doing, why else would the meat be SHIPPED OVERSEAS. I'm am just against FOREIGN OWNED SLAUGHTER HOUSES KILLING HORSES & SHIPPING THE MEAT OVERSEAS. If ppl in other countries want to eat horse, they can eat their own damn horses.

Now, do you finally understand what I'm saying. I swear everytime any american talks to some1 non-american the non-american always get every damn thing they say all mixed up. There, I tried my explaining...)

There.... Nothing against foreigners (we're all foreign for shits sake), I'm not wanna these ultra-patriotic-love-everything-the-government-does type of idiots, and I don't give a shit about ppl's eating habits. I just think it was about time we put a stop to slaughtering our horses for ppl overseas to eat. There, now SHUT THE FUCK UP!

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~Eternal "Save the Horses!!" Fallout

Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dies

Sep 4, 2006

Steve Irwin, the quirky Australian naturalist who won world-wide acclaim, was killed by a stingray barb through the chest on Monday while diving off Australia's northeast coast, emergency officials and witnesses said.

"Steve was hit by a stingray in the chest," said local diving operator Steve Edmondson, whose Poseidon boats were out on the Great Barrier Reef when the accident occurred.

"He probably died from a cardiac arrest from the injury," he said.

Police and ambulance officials later confirmed Irwin had died and said his family had been advised.

Irwin, 44, was killed while filming an underwater documentary off Port Douglas.

Irwin had been diving off his boat "Croc One" near Batt Reef northeast of Port Douglas. A helicopter had taken paramedics to nearby Low Isles where Irwin was taken for medical treatment but he was dead before they arrived, police said.

Irwin won a global following for his dare-devil antics but also triggered outrage in 2004 by holding his then one-month-old baby while feeding a snapping crocodile at his Australian zoo.

He made almost 50 of his "Crocodile Hunter" documentaries which appeared on cable TV channel Animal Planet and won a world-wide audience.
The series ended after he was criticised for the incident with his young son and for disturbing whales, seals and penguins while filming in Antarctica.

Khaki-clad Irwin became famous for his seemingly death-defying methods with wild animals, including crocodiles and snakes.

He made a cameo appearance alongside Eddie Murphy in the 2001 Hollywood film Dr Dolittle 2 and appeared on US television shows such as The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and on children's television alongside The Wiggles.

Irwin was married with two children, Bindi Sue, 8, and Robert (Bob) Clarence, 3.
His American-born wife Terri was his business partner and frequent on-screen collaborator.

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Truely sad to hear. Aussi's "Iron Man" died? Can't believe it one bit. Just when everyone thought that nothing on this very planet could ever kill him, he gets it from a stingwray. I love his spastic all-or-nothing & truely fearless attitude! I feel sorry that one of the last thing ppl will remember about this man is media madness when he held his son while feeding an alligator. Some ppl rly need to chill! I mean, he's the croc hunter for shit's sake I think he has feeding an alligator under his control. Noticed I try not to put the dead's names in past-tense. He will live on in this world as a legacy. Who else do you know that wrestles with alligators & snakes!? To leave a person's name in past-tense like they never mattered or ceased to be just doesn't seem right to me. I hope he will continue to live on in people's hearts. Rest In Peace you crazy bloke!

BTW: I wanted to post some links to various video clips of Steve's show appearances & documentaries but it seems the only thing on every1's mind on (video website's name here) just posts dumb shit like impressions poking fun at his accent & craziness... Well you know how things go in this world, you have to die to get recognition. In a couple of weeks or so there will be tons of videos you can buy about him & compilations of his documentaries as well as tv box sets on sale, special sets, special prices, all because every1's gotta make a profit off some1's death. Hopefully his family will be alright see through such a tough time in their lives.

UPDATE: Ahh here we go... here's a video tribute to Steve Irwin

~Eternal "R.I.P. Steve Irwin" Fallout