Similar bills proposed in Texas and Colorado were vetoed. Matthews hope is that Norman's bill suffers a similar fate this legislative session in Tallahassee.
"The backbone of everything we do is undercover investigations."
Matthews urged the public to write to their elected officials against the bill. He expresses the concern about animal and human rights in farm houses over the country, saying, "This sort of stuff is the heart of what we do."
Story written by Brittney Bagiardi
Dan Matthews, Senior Vice President for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), spoke out Tuesday night against Hillsborough Republican state Senator Jim Norman's bill known as SB 1246 Tuesday night at the University of South Florida's Marshall Student Center. If passed, the bill would make taking photographs and video footage in Florida farms illegal.
"We have invited Jim Norman to join us tonight. He failed to acknowledge our calls and emails. Maybe he is not as passionate about his as he says he is," Matthews said.
Matthews believes farms and slaughterhouses need mandatory video surveillance. Without the footage, animal cruelty and employee turnover rates will sky rocket. "We've gone in there not to just obtain an image, but to obtain evidence, " he told the crowd.
