Oklahoma State Senator Calls for Counties to Vote on Horse Slaughter

LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!!  ~DECLAN

State senator wants counties to vote on horse slaughter

Posted: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 4:40 pm

From Staff Reports | As posted on Tulsa World

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton, has filed legislation that would give counties the final say over the location of horse slaughter facilities.

“When Governor Fallin signed legislation into law last year legalizing horse slaughter, she issued a statement saying it was important for towns to be able to block horse slaughter plants if that was their will,” said Bass. “This legislation would simply give counties the option to decide for themselves whether they want these facilities in their jurisdictions or not.”

Senate Joint Resolution 66 would require a countywide vote on proposed slaughter plants.

Some horse interests argue that the lack of facilities for slaughtering and processing horses has led to a glut of live horses, and that horses are now being shipped to Mexico or Canada for slaughter.

Bass cited a poll that found overwhelming opposition to the legalization of horse slaughter in Oklahoma.

"What’s interesting is the fact that it didn’t really matter if you were talking about people living in a rural area or a large city, and it didn’t matter if they were a Democrat or a Republican, conservative or liberal—the overwhelming majority did not want a horse slaughter plant in their community,” Bass said. “This legislation reaffirms our citizens’ right to block such a facility if that’s what the majority of qualified voters decide.”