Wanted to share an e-mail from one of the farmers who was raided on Friday. Note at the end of his message what the DNR observed about his facility.
Subject: search warrant
I was served a search warrant yesterday at 7: 45am.
After 8 guys 3 four wheelers, and 4 hours, DNR decided I was correct. I have killed all my hogs. They gave me papers that say I do not have any hogs on my property. All they saw were dead hogs laying around from my mass slaughtering. It took 12 guys 4 times in there to kill all of them, sows with young, Pregnant sows, dozens of piglets, and old mature boars. It has been a sad few weeks.
Does anyone know what it feels like to open fire on 20 baby piglets in one group which weigh between 5lbs and 15 lbs. They are so adorable and cute.
They commented to everyone that they never saw a fence built so tough and no way would a hog get out of this area. I trenched 2′ then installed chain link fencing, then a 10′ high tightlock fence on top of that. ( 200 acre area ) They never saw a fence like that.
Dave Tuxbury
deer tracks ranch
Another farmer, Ron McKendrick, was raided on Saturday, ending a two week event in which his place was staked out for three days, his customers were “interviewed” by armed officers, and his meat processor was so intimidated she won’t take his hogs but fears her business will suffer greatly due to the loss of business. Even though he’s in Detroit working while a hired man runs his facility, he had a restraining order issued against him and faced a suit for not obeying the ISO–however, by the time of the raid on Saturday, he’d never received any paperwork informing him of those two pieces of court action. He faces a hearing in Cheboygan on Friday, April 20th. If you’re in the area, feel free to attend.
This is an e-mail from our lawyer, commenting on a release from the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
The mindset of the MUCC is frightening. The MUCC cynically spouts the DNR B.S. and asserts that most people have already knuckled under to government pressure and they “will deal with the most difficult folks through the court system as needed.” Anyone ever read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”? A certain fellow named Hitler espoused the same rationale for dealing with “enemies of the Reich”. His strategy was to use spiritual and physical intimidation by spreading lies and falsehoods designed to make the public believe that a certain situation exists and to vilify anyone who would question the existence of the falsehoods. That form of pressure works on 90% of the people who back down and go away. Then the machinery of government is used to to finish off those who are still standing. Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it!
Two stories about how the government is dealing “with the most difficult folks through the court system as needed.” (quote from the MUCC release). If you’ve supported us in any way, you can be proud to be part of the 10% who resist falsehood and empty assurances of safety. Thanks for standing, and keep up the good work!