Tulsa World Profiles Speaker Shannon
Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon making name for himself
BY WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer
Sunday, April 28, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY — T.W. Shannon, speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and a fast-rising star in national conservative politics, has a special name for the off-white couch in his state Capitol office.
“The Truth Sofa.”
House members come into his office, sit on The Truth Sofa and tell him … the truth: Why they can’t vote for leadership bills, why they have to vote for non-leadership bills, why certain proposals are essential to their districts, or their constituencies, or their friends.
Many times, Shannon says, he spends the better part of his day sitting across from The Truth Sofa, listening.
“I learn more about the world, their districts, their families, and what’s really happening with the member right there,” Shannon said.
As the Legislature moves toward the climax of its annual session, competition for time on The Truth Sofa is rising. Lots of people want a few minutes alone with Shannon, arguably the most powerful man inside the state Capitol.
“The Truth Sofa” is a bunch of bull! This man is unethical and follows along with all the other unethical members of his legislation who put profit above welfare everyday.
I sent him communications regarding what I advocate for, which is the truth about commercial horse slaughter. This extremely cruel, unnecessary and poisonous “industry” preys on equines that were never intended to be slaughtered for food. I have spent the past 3 years studying commercial slaughter. I am endorsed by national animal welfare advocates and former USDA Slaughter Inspectors.
Shannon would not consider the truth about commercial horse slaughter, instead he endorsed his fellow female legislator who claims for political reasons that commercial slaughter of horses is a “humane euthanasia alternative.” Commercial horse slaughter could not be farther from euthanasia.
Let’s talk about horse slaughter and the ludicrous possibility that millions in funding to the USDA would go to inspect a process in clear violation of the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958 for foreign-backed companies and a foreign market that is many times an illegal one:
Bovines and equines (cattle and horses) are both supposed to be “rendered insensible with a single (1) shot” before vivisection, before they hang on the hook, according to Federal Law. A large percentage (at least 40%) of horses regain consciousness on slaughter lines after they are hanging. The captive-bolt is ineffective at rendering them senseless and they are routinely shot in the head multiple times before their vivisection for harvesting is completed. Animal advocates are outraged over this because of the extremity of this barbaric practice. This is evidenced in the following video, as well as many that can be found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwPqh43_NkM. And here is the law: http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/07C48.txt.
You cannot restrain the head of a horse to correctly apply the pneumatic captive-bolt gun apparatus to their forehead. The gun has a pressure-release trigger and use of it on horses requires multiple shots to render them senseless. Some skulls from slaughtered horses recovered at rendering plants have 4 or 5, and sometimes up to 20 or more, holes in them.
The specific fact that equines commonly have to be struck multiple times with the captive-bolt, or shotgun, is what makes commercial horse slaughter in the U.S. a clear violation of the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958. The meat produced contains dangerous levels of adrenaline and cortisol, in addition to all the prohibited substances and medications given U.S. horses.
Please support the SAFE ACT in Congress today! Call (202)224-3121 and ask to speak to your Federal Representatives. Tell them to support HR1094 and S541!
Ban horse slaughter forever! It is bad meat and baaad business!