WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement by Frankie L. Trull, president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research:
The Foundation for Biomedical Research today expressed great dismay over a misguided and criminal campaign of harassment and intimidation that has resulted in a UCLA professor of neurobiology abandoning his research as a result of the demands of the Animal Liberation Front, following a campaign that included harassment of family and neighbors, as well as an attempted bombing of a colleague's home.
Medical researchers are committed to finding cures for diseases that threaten both human and animal health. It is both sad and troubling that the will of a few misinformed and misguided extremists are able to halt vital research that has the potential to benefit all of humanity.
Congress is currently considering legislation to address, among other tactics, the intimidation and harassment of scientists and their families with the implication of doing physical harm. Congress must act swiftly to amend the Animal Enterprise Protection Act (HR 4239 and S 1926) in order to properly equip the FBI to investigate and prosecute animal extremists who are opposed to life-saving medical research. This proposed legislation broadens the definition of animal enterprise, increase penalties for causing economic disruption or damage, and address "tertiary" or third-party targeting - a tactic used by extremists against anyone who knows or does business with anyone involved in medical research.
The cost of not stopping the radical members of the animal rights movement is high in both financial and human terms. To date, eco and animal terrorists have caused over $100 million in damage and destruction. If they are not stopped, their campaigns could drive research organizations out of the country altogether. Also of tremendous concern is the loss of valuable research data that could be key to a new discovery to treat or cure Americans living with disease and pain.
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