Colorado ranchers were dealt a blow when initiative 16 was introduced. Thankfully, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on June 21, 2021 that the initiative violates the single subject requirement by combining together the treatment of livestock and changing the laws relating to sexual abuse of all animals.
The website for the initiative states “The PAUSE campaign is a ballot initiative filed for the 2022 mid-term election. Current animal abuse laws have a complete exception for farmed animals. The focus of this campaign is to define animal abuse for farmed animals; while allowing for animal agriculture to exist.
If enacted, the amended statutes would extend the basic animal abuse laws already written for dogs and cats to cows, pigs, chickens, etc. A subsection is added to maintain an exception for slaughter once the animal has reached adulthood.”
If the proponents of the initiative want to try again, they will have to draft another measure, submit it to legislative council, wait at least two weeks for a hearing, then submit the new measure to the Tittle Board, only to wait another two weeks for another hearing, and so on and so forth. A.K.A., a very complicated journey to getting the initiative on the ballot for 2022.
Although it was turned down by the Colorado Supreme Court in a 7-0 decision, it’s something we as an industry need to be aware of. Activists are trying their best to pass laws that have underlying dangers to the industry, but hide them in a facade of animal welfare- something they know nothing about when it comes to livestock. Their goal is to end all use of animals, even when that use is beneficial to them and to humans alike. The Colorado Livestock Group put together a fact sheet about the PAUSE ACT, which details more information than proponents led on.
What is Initiative 16?
Initiative 16 is a ballot initiative that:
– Criminalizes farmers, ranchers and veterinarians who use accepted animal husbandry practices to care for animals.
– Changes state statutory language to define common animal care practices as “cruelty to animals.”
– Bans slaughter for animals that have lived less than 25 percent of their “natural” lifespan. ○ Criminalizes the following veterinary and animal husbandry practices: spaying and neutering, birthing assistance, reproductive practices (artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, fertility testing), etc.
– Eliminates accepted animal husbandry practices, opening the door to animal cruelty prosecution for common and basic practices such as feeding, sheltering and transportation.
What will Initiative 16 do?
● Destroy Colorado’s $5 billion livestock industry.
● Crush Colorado’s $1 billion beef export market.
● Kill jobs by shutting down most, if not all, Colorado beef and lamb processing.
● Significantly increase consumer costs for meat.
● Result in practices that are bad for the animals and the environment by requiring detrimental production practices.
● Erase agriculture’s heritage in Colorado by effectively banning rodeos, county fairs and horse shows.
What are the next steps?
Coloradans for Animal Care will legally challenge the single subject and title utilizing professional counsel specializing in the ballot process. Unfortunately, there is no way to challenge the merits or constitutionality of a citizen-led ballot initiative during the title process.
To be placed on the 2022 ballot, an initiative must pass title board requirements, meet required deadlines and garner 124,632 valid signatures.
What can agriculture do about it?
Join one or more of the many agriculture organizations funding this initiative fight.
Support the legal action taken by contributing to Coloradans for Animal Care or any of the producer associations funding the effort. Be cautious – this initiative has received A LOT of attention and groups are attempting to prey on concerned animal owners. ONLY donate to the organizations funding the fight to OPPOSE Initiative 16 or the Coloradans for Animal Care campaign itself.
Who is backing this Initiative 16?
Animal rights extremists who want to destroy livestock production and agriculture in Colorado.
The reason to educate ourselves on issues such as the PAUSE ACT, even if they have been deemed unacceptable, is that activists WILL bring more legislation like this to the table in the near future. The most proactive way to fight back is to be there. Be present in the industry, in the organizations that work to fight these things behind the scenes, be a voice by spreading the misinformation and harmful effects these laws will have on society as a whole, and always be sure to vote against anything if you can.
