Grass roots lobbying for or against legislative proposals is an American tradition. The ready access of voters to legislators has been an integral part of our freedom and political power.

Some in the Missouri legislature want to shut down or at least sharply limit that access. This is because of emails from citizens opposing horse slaughter and, in particular, a Missouri bill, first called H.B. 1747 and then S.B. 795,  that would authorize commercial horse slaughter for human consumption, though it is prohibited by federal law. The Missouri House by a vote of 88-71 along party lines, have amended S.B. 844 to define lobbying to include "[a]ttempts to influence any elected official other than an elected official who represents the legislative district where the person resides. This paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any person who is testifying before any legislative, executive, or administrative committee".

This means anyone who contacts a Missouri legislator in support or opposition to a bill and who does not live in that legislator's district, must be registered as a lobbyist with the Mo Ethics Commission. Anyone from Missouri who contacts Missouri legislators other than their own, for example, House or Senate leaders or a committee chair, to support or oppose a bill, must first register as a lobbyist. People from other states who are affected by legislation passed by the Missouri legislature, like H.B. 1747, now S.B. 795, could not call or write a single state legislator to oppose a bill that would allow slaughter of horses without first registering as a lobbyist.

There are many issues debated and decided by state legislators that affect people in other states.  Like the slaughter of American horses. And, many citizens of other states will have information or expertise that could help legislators in making their decisions. Many times state legislatures and their respective constituents must work together in passing legislation that affects a region of the country or involves the same or similar programs. 

Some Missouri state legislators have responded to people who have disagreed with them on the issue of horse slaughter by returning emails or forwarding large numbers of emails, for example, to Kinship Circle's email address, blocking calls and faxes or sending emails like this from Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany):

    "It's so fun to piss you wackos off....You're lucky I even acknowledge your existence. It's so much fun to taunt people like you - ha! Tell me, is it truly liberating to be so incredibly clueless?"

or from Rep. Curt Dougherty, "Feel free to boycott Missouri . We will not miss you."

Kinship Circle reported the following incidents by Missouri House members:

--  Left indecent voicemails on Kinship Circle's line. One sang a vulgar 
version of "A Horse Is A Horse." (CALLER ID: Missouri State, 573-522-0000)
--  Called our line late at night. At 10:00pm, one unidentified legislator 
chanted Kinship Circle president Brenda Shoss' name in a creepy  voice, then neighed. (CALLER ID: Missouri State, 573-522-0000)

--  Called and reached us -- to cuss, yell and slam down the phone.

--  Called our business line to leave messages that begin "Hey Brenda..." in a menacing voice. Never: "Ms. Shoss" or "Kinship Circle."

--  Called to say they are so inconvenienced by your "fricking emails," 
they'll vote YES on H.B. 1747. And: "The entire Missouri House is against 
your organization."

There were also clearly efforts by some legislators to pass the pro-horse slaughter bill by burying it in another bill, hidden to avoid public debate and opinion.  

Now with S.B. 844, some in the legislature want to cut off all disagreement with their positions to the extent possible.

WHAT WE CAN DO

Animal Law Coalition calls on the Missouri legislators to put aside the acrimony, the anger, and withdraw this provision in S.B. 844. It is not easy to hear the anger and fear of people who want to stop animal abuse.  No one wants to hear their way of life, raising animals for food, is "abuse" or "inhumane", or their concern for what they have been told are "unwanted" horses, is "cruel".  But limiting the freedom of Americans to have their say is not the answer. We call on you to debate this issue and listen to the well-reasoned arguments and substantial facts about horse slaughter. It may change your mind or provide some basis for compromise.

We also call on advocates to be polite in contacting Missouri state representatives and senators in opposition to S.B. 844 and S.B. 795's horse slaughter provisions. You cause more harm if you are rude.   If you live in Missouri or have particular experiences or knowledge that maybe helpful to Missouri legislators on this issue, contact legislators found here or find all representatives here and senators here.

Contact Missouri's Governor Jay Nixon and First Lady Georganne Nixon. Here is more contact info for the governor:

Office of Governor Jay Nixon
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-3222

If you don't live in Missouri and don't have particular experiences or knowledge to share with state legislators, call on your own state legislators to ban horse slaughter and most importantly, call on your U.S. representative and senators to pass H.R. 503/S.B. 727 and end the slaughter of American horses.