Would you champion property rights?

I am not sure how many times I’ve said, “I sure would like to be in a movie at least once in my life.” Well, apparently that is going to happen.

Last week I was in Petaluma, California, filming a movie based on a true story that should be out next year. I used the term “apparently” because the producer reminded me that the editors could end up cutting all the tape I did and dropping it on the floor. Stay tuned and I will give you full details when the time is right.

I tell you that for one reason—on the day I arrived in Petaluma, a group of reportedly 400 animal rights activists stormed a chicken farm three miles from my hotel, illegally entering the facility and took the chickens. I didn’t hear about the encounter until about two days later. I found the owner and had a great visit. Then I sat down with a concerned neighbor, Phil Brooks, who actually conducted a citizen’s arrest during the incident.

I will be honest in pointing out that I struggle in writing this piece because the mission of these criminal thugs is to achieve publicity. I have decided that exposing how these criminals operate outweighs the goal of giving Direct Action Everywhere name recognition. Most of us have read about cult leaders throughout the course of history that completely brainwash followers into submission complete with sexual assault, rape and domination. I make that statement because a number of former cult members who have escaped have begun blogging about the real story.

I have posted a couple of pieces on my social media sites that managed to bring out a number of the crazies. These folks have been convinced that the extinction of all animal species is best for our future. I try to explain that the reason God put these animals on planet earth to begin with was to improve the planet and human health. That is where the train runs off the rails because to find a hard core animal rights activist who is also a Christian is about like getting the camel through the eye of a needle.

There are two seriously major issues with what is happening in these groups. One, bio-security plans have been seriously derailed. All owners of animal ag facilities have some level of a bio-security to protect the health of their birds, not only from avian born viruses but also from other zoonotic diseases that humans have and pass to animals, and vice versa. In addition, we have no idea what animal exposure these individuals had prior to storming in with a crowbar and forcing their way into these farm premises.

The second point of contention is the fact that our founding fathers granted us God-given rights, including property rights. You cannot enter my property without my permission. These people have been brainwashed into believing they can enter a private farm as long as they believe an animal is in peril. I have read the California statute regarding this and it clearly says only law enforcement officials can enter a property if they deem animals to be in peril but they may only feed and water the animals. It clearly states that animals must remain in the confined area where they are found.

Quite possibly the greatest question is why have law enforcement officials allowed this self-described activist cult to persist. The group typically livestreams each one of its illegal break-ins and then provides Facebook information about the stolen property after it arrives at its facility. In February members bragged and showed a video of stealing a young kid goat. Next we see them trying to get the goat on a bottle after the kid had nursed its own mother for weeks. Their online documentary of the goat named “Rain” stopped suddenly which clearly indicates their actions killed the animal.

At the end of the day, with all the visible information about the illegal activity of Direct Action Everywhere, why are the members still allowed to commit terroristic acts on animal owners? Why must we continue to have this rapid erosion of property rights in the United States? And finally, why are the heroic efforts of concerned neighbors like Phil and Toni Brooks swept under the rug instead of being paraded as champions for the cause? Are you prepared to make your own citizen’s arrest if the need arises?

Editor’s note: Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer, host of the daily radio show, Loos Tales, and founder of Faces of Agriculture, a non-profit organization putting the human element back into the production of food. Get more information at www.LoosTales.com, or email Trent at [email protected].