Phew — photographers in Florida won’t be treated as equivalents to murderers and rapists. State Sen. Jim Norman’s bill wanted to make photographing farms and their farm animals a first-degree felony, but it was seriously amended after word got out and people claimed it was ridiculous. Norman’s impetus was those undercover videos of abusive farming operations made by animal rights groups; a bigwig egg producer (read donor) in Florida farming suggested the bill.

The bill is still pretty ridiculous, but now you’ll be able to take photos from the road or air, and the punishment will be a misdemeanor and not a felony for entering a property without written permission.

A similar bill just passed in the Iowa House. It criminalizes undercover agricultural investigations and sends the participants to prison.

Source: St. Petersburg Times