In 2002, ALEC's Criminal Justice Task Force endorsed their model Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act (AETA), playing upon current terrorism fears. The legislation, containing overly vague language and increased penalties for violent crimes already covered under existing laws, is designed not to protect hunting, fishing, livestock farms, and animal research facilities but to suppress legitimate environmental, animal rights, and family farm advocacy. The act defines an "animal or ecological terrorist organization" as "two or more persons with the primary or incidental purpose of supporting any politically motivated activity... intended to obstruct, impede, or deter any person from participating in a lawful animal activity" or in "mining, foresting, harvesting, gathering, or processing natural resources." This and other passages in the act could be used to prosecute mainstream environmental groups engaged in nonviolent advocacy work. People providing support to such organizations -- even in the innocuous form of a monetary contribution -- could also be prosecuted. The legislation also authorizes the creation of a "terrorist registry." This is a dangerous piece of legislation that threatens the legitimate work of many organizations, and does nothing to accomplish its stated purpose. AETA is a bill concocted by corporate donors, right-wing interests, and fringe non-profit groups who seek to silence the legitimate opinions of citizens and well-established environmental groups. The bill was introduced in New York and Texas in 2003; in 2004, it was introduced in Arizona, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Washington. All of these states have rightly rejected AETA -- in Arizona, the House bill was withdrawn and the governor vetoed the Senate version. None of the other bills made it out of committee. Despite their continued failure to pass an AETA bill, expect ALEC to push this model again next session.

Ran 7/6/2004