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