TRENTON — New Jersey on Friday became the first state to ban wild and exotic animals from circus acts.
Gov.
Phil Murphy signed Nosey's Law, named after a 36-year-old African
elephant that was abused as it traveled the country, including New
Jersey. The law was championed by former state Sen. Ray Lesniak,
D-Union.
"These animals belong in their natural
habitats or in wildlife sanctuaries, not in performances where their
safety and the safety of others is at risk," Murphy said Friday in a
statement.
The New Jersey chapter of the Humane Society of
the United States said circus animals endure cruelty in training and
constant confinement. Nosey was forced to perform despite health
problems.
"Nosey is now safe in an animal
sanctuary, but the law protects other animals from being abused like she
was," state Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, D-Camden, said. "Today, New Jersey
is taking a stand for animal rights and I hope that other states will
follow our example so that this sort of abuse can be eliminated
everywhere in the country."
The law was passed by the Legislature during Gov. Chris Christie's term, but the Republican governor pocket vetoed it.
The bill passed 71-3 in the Assembly. Voting no
were Michael Patrick Carroll, R-Morris; Jay Webber, R-Morris; and Harold
Wirths, R-Sussex. Three abstained: Minority Leader Jon Bramnick,
R-Union; Erik Peterson, R-Warren; and Parker Space, R-Sussex. And three
didn't vote: Mila Jasey, D-Essex; James Kennedy, D-Union; and Pamela
Lampitt, D-Camden.
In the state Senate, the bill passed 38-0 with Michael Doherty, R-Warren, and Fred Madden Jr., D-Gloucester, not voting.
The law bans all non-domesticated wild animals excluding farm animals.
2 comments:
I’m so glad that Murphy and our legislators are passing such important bills. Maybe they can pass some bills to lower our taxes.
Speaking of Murphy , a talk radio station listener complained yesterday that Murphy took over 2 million dollars from the veteran transportation fund then transferred it into the general fund and then transferred it into the legal defense fund for illegal immigrants facing deportation. If true this is totally despicable .Anyone know about this?
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