Do Animals Have Constitutional Rights?

Sea World Courtesy Photo

Every night when I turn on the news I see people wringing their hands and going on and on about the economy being in the tank. The despair you see is unbelievable as they talk and talk and talk about what could be causing all these economic problems. The plans they advance to “correct” all these problems such as the stimulus, bailouts and more government oversight are just off the wall they are so ridiculous. Funny thing is I rarely hear anyone mention what I think is the real problem with our economy which is too much government interference in the business sector and a legal system that will let any idiot with an agenda shut down any new project for any reason.

Take for example this recent story over at the Northern Ag Network  PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has filed suit against Sea World because they keep Whales on display to perform for the tourists. I am sure you have all read stories about PETA and maybe have even seen the guy in Great Falls that used to dress up in his fish costume with the big hook sticking out of his mouth while he paraded around holding a sign that said something to the effect of “I have feelings too and feel the deep pain of this barbaric hook.” Lawsuits by PETA have become fairly commonplace but this recent suit against Sea World takes the prize for idiotic stunts that clog up our court system.

PETA claims in their lawsuit that Sea World is violating the whales 13th amendment rights and should be freed. HUH? The 13th amendment? Whales have constitutional rights? What does the 13th amendment say?

Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

PETA claims that the 13th Amendment, while prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude, does not specify that only humans can be victims. They are quoted in an Associated Press article as saying;

"By any definition, these orcas are slaves — kidnapped from their homes, kept confined, denied everything that's natural to them and forced to perform tricks for SeaWorld's profit," said Kerr. "The males have their sperm collected, the females are artificially inseminated and forced to bear young which are sometimes shipped away."

So the whole court case is comparing these captive whales to the days of slavery in America? I wonder how the descendants of the “real” slaves feel about whales being compared to their plight. The sad part is the PETA attorneys have spent over 18 months preparing for their day in court using this logic. Apparently a few more attorneys need to also be unemployed if this is the best they can do.

Blatant attacks on business such as this one by PETA is part of what is wrong with our economy. At the very least laws need to be changed allowing court costs to defend idiotic lawsuits such as this to be recovered from the tormenting parties by the defendants