It is confirmed. As many of you know from first reading in the comments of articles here on NoNAIS.org and then in the discussion lists the USDA has slaughtered a large number of hogs at the Henshaw family’s place in Virginia. This is the nightmare abuse of power by the government we have all been fearing which is discussed starting on page 31 of the Government Accounting Office (GAO) document 05-214 regarding depopulation.
The claim is that the USDA did this because of Pseudorabies, yet the government did not follow it’s own standard operating procedures of testing as outlined in the USDA’s own documents. The USDA spilled bodily fluids from the slaughtered pigs all over the road where any disease could be transmitted to other farms and other animals. Slaughter is not required for testing for Pseudorabies. These issues seriously puts into question the validity of the disease claim and/or the competence of the government officials involved.
Please do not confuse Pseudorabies (a disease of livestock which does not infect humans) with the common disease of Rabies which is a totally different disease. By using the excuse of Pseudorabies, which sounds like Rabies, the government has already succeeded in confusing some people as to the disease. This may be the purpose in choosing that disease as the excuse.
Also note that pigs survive Pseudorabies and can go onto become healthy animals that can be used for food and breeding stock. Slaughter is neither necessary nor adviseable. On top of that, Pseudorabies is a disease that is virtually eradicated making an excessive, violent reaction like this not only unnecessary but irrational.
Here are some other interesting links about Pseudorabies you may want to read for background information:
Pseudorabies quick explanation (Wikipedia)
Pseudorabies Disease (Merck Manual)
Mummified Fetuses (NIH)
Pseudorabies Eradication (USDA)
Depopulation Procedures (USDA)
Pseudorabies Q&A (USDA).
Pseudorabies Regulations (Virgiinia)
If you Google remember that it is all one word “Pseudorabies”.
The behavior of the government agents in the Henshaw case, the abuse of the family’s rights the destruction of private property, the failure to follow procedure and the killing of pets that were completely separate from the herd all suggests that there may be a lot more here than meets the eye.
This week several people I trust have visited with Cynthia and Danny Henshaw to see the destruction for themselves. You can read Sue Karber’s comments here about her visit to the Henshaw place. There are now reports of several other similar cases but no details yet. Below is a report on the situation from Jane Williams.
-WalterJ
[Prepared Sept. 27th for publication in the November 2006 “American Family Voice”]
Hogs Massacred in Virginia
Who’s Animals are Next
Gladstone, Virginia: At 5:00 AM on September 12, 2006, Cindi and Danny Henshaw were awakened by their local Virginia game warden, who arrested Danny on an apparently trumped up Class 2 Misdemeanor charge and took him from his Willis River Hunting preserve for supposedly, “operating a mammalian hunting enclosure without a permit.” As soon as Danny was out of the way, 9 SUV’s and pickups, 4 wheelers, and numerous heavily armed agents entered the Henshaw property with a Quarantine Order and began shooting Henshaw’s hogs and sheep with 12 gauge shotguns. Some 270 shell casings were also found.
Individuals participating in the attack were Virginia game wardens, USDA employees, and Virginia Department of Agriculture employees. At the Henshaw’s farm, the Virginia State Veterinarian appeared to be in charge. Some of the invaders wore jeans and sweat shirts with USDA lettering. Others wore white clothing that appeared to be hazardous materials suits. These were probably Virginia Department of Agriculture employees. They sure weren’t hunters, since they mostly used shotguns to kill the livestock and could not hit the scurrying young pigs. Danny was released from custody in 2 hours and allowed to return to the farm where he and Cindi were controlled around the clock by armed guards from September 12th through September 22nd.
A command center had been set up and another raid was being conducted near Farmville in Cumberland County, Virginia, at the same time [details not available on Sept. 27th]. On September 22nd, the attackers withdrew after killing Henshaw’s sheep and at least 79 hogs. Animals were starved to trick them into the open as they searched for food.
On September 26th, the Henshaws still knew little about why their hunting operation was attacked. About all they knew was that an agent supposedly reported that he had hunted at their reserve in May and, according to the agent, the hog that he shot had probably been infected with pseudorabies. The agent returned on September 9th and killed another hog that supposedly tested positive for pseudorabies. The Henshaws were not provided with any test reports. [It is doubtful that blood from a hog shot at the hunting reserve would have been viable for testing because of the time lapse from the death of the animal and the testing of the blood unless proper refrigeration techniques were used.] Danny and Cindi were held under armed guard around the clock and not allowed to move around to see what was taking place.
Attachments to the Quarantine Order stated that Henshaws would be charged for the costs of the massacre, including man hours, and the incineration of their animals. The hogs that were shot were apparently not tested, but their carcasses were loaded on trailers and hauled away for incineration as blood poured through the slats as the trailers rolled down the road. [On September 27th, the Henshaws were informed that blood from 15 of the slaughtered hogs had tested positive for pseudo rabies. Information about testing will be posted at a later date.] The Henshaws were prevented by armed guards from entering what the agents called, “the compound,” where the animals were being slaughtered. Two 5 ½ year old pet hogs that as babies had been bottle fed in their home from the time the pigs were 3 days old were housed on property with a separate deed from the hunting preserve. They were shot in their pen and their bleeding carcasses were dragged across the driveway where they had once followed the Henshaws around like pet dogs.
On September 22nd, the agents departed because they decided that they could not kill all of the hogs. Danny agreed to feed the hogs corn until they were de-stressed and then kill the remaining hogs. He would have agreed to anything to get the gun slingers off of his property. He was order not to do anything with the pigs other than feed them. That included treating wounded pigs and drawing blood for testing.. The Quarantine Order stated that the herd must be eradicated within 15 days to prevent the State of Virginia from loosing its “pseudorabies free status”.
Arkansas regulations allow 180 days for sell out for slaughter before an order of mandatory destruction is issued. Pseudorabies infected hogs are safe for human consumption. The Henshaws should have been allowed to sell their hogs for slaughter, if pseudorabies had been detected, but they were not allowed to test, confirm the presence of pseudorabies, or sell their hogs. They were only allowed to listen to the gunshots and hear the screaming, wounded, dying hogs.
Danny Henshaw is a nationally known archer (consistently ranking in the top 10 in the US), a highly respected hunter, a well known hunting film maker, and sought after hunting guide. He and Cindi had operated their hunting preserve for 16 years, and it had been grand-fathered in by the Commonwealth’s Attorney to grant it “status” as new Virginia regulations were enacted. Danny had worked as an undercover narcotics agent and said that this attack goes well beyond his experience as a law officer. Willis River Hunting, located near Gladstone, Virginia, offered guided hunting trips for Russian boar, trophy rams, and sheep. No adult animals remain at Willis River Hunting. The massacre destroyed the Henshaw’s primary business. They offer turkey hunts in Virginia and Kansas and deer hunts in Virginia and Kansas. Danny has even taken some rather famous Governor Clinton security guards turkey hunting and participated in making hunting films in Oklahoma.
USDA Quotes on Pseudorabies
“Pseudorabies is a viral disease most prevalent in swine, often causing newborn piglets to die. Older pigs can survive infection, becoming carriers of the pseudorabies virus for life. Other animals infected from swine die from pseudorabies, which is also known as Aujeszky’s disease and “mad itch.” Infected cattle and sheep can first show signs of pseudorabies by scratching and biting themselves. In dogs and cats, pseudorabies can cause sudden death. The virus does not cause illness in humans.” “Pseudorabies is a disease of swine that can also affect cattle, horses, dogs, cats, sheep, and goats. The disease is caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV), an extremely contagious herpes virus that causes reproductive problems, including abortion, stillbirths, and even occasional death losses in breeding and finishing hogs.” “ The virus has never been shown to be contagious to humans, not even to people working on farms with many PRV-infected animals.” “PRV is primarily spread through direct animal-to-animal (or nose-to-nose) contact between an infected and shedding pig and a non-infected pig. If present on inanimate objects, such as boots, clothing, feed, trucks, and equipment, the virus can also spread from herd to herd and farm to farm.”
“Pseudorabies can be prevented primarily through good, tight biosecurity, a sound vaccination program, and thorough, meticulous management with disease control and prevention in mind.” “PRV is known to have existed in the United States for at least 150 years.” “USDA established a voluntary eradication program for pseudorabies in the United States in 1989. The program is cooperative in nature and involves Federal, State, and industry participation. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) coordinates the national pseudorabies eradication program, State governments promulgate and enforce the intrastate regulations, and producers contribute by having their herds tested and instituting control and eradication measures. The program’s primary activities include surveillance, herd monitoring, and herd cleanup.” “Currently, all 50 States are considered free of PRV in commercial production swine herds, those herds which have adequate measures in place to prevent contact and potential infection from feral and transitional production swine, known potential carriers of the PRV virus.” “No commercial production herds have been found to be infected with PRV since early 2003. Sporadic infections have been found in transitional production herds, those swine which are captured feral swine, or have the potential to come in contact with feral swine. Any infected transitional herds have been promptly depopulated when found, and intense epidemiological investigations have been conducted to ascertain that no viral spread to commercial production swine has occurred.”
-USDA documents [1, 2]
Depopulation
Depopulation is slaughtering all animals supposedly affected with the disease or who are susceptible to the disease (any disease), in this case pseudorabies. All hogs are susceptible to pseudorabies. The armed agents were not able to kill all of the young pigs. Young pigs affected with pseudorabies would have been extremely easy to kill since they are weak and usually dying. Henshaws pigs ran too fast for the attackers to be able to shoot all of them. Henshaws reported that their hogs were robust and healthy. Their sows had not had conception problems, still births, or miscarriages. Young pigs had not been sick or dying.
Pseudorabies testing regulations in Arkansas require testing of 25 animals, or testing all animals on farms with smaller populations every 6 months. Larger hog operations need test only 27 if holding 100-200 head, 28 if holding 201-999 head, or 29 if holding 1000 or more head to be certified a pseudorabies free herd. Once again the small producer faces an economic disadvantage because of this costly testing requirement. This writer has not found any sale barn owner who has ever known of a pseudorabies positive test in Arkansas. Hogs can not be sold legally in Arkansas without blood being drawn by a technician or veterinarian unless the hog farm has been certified pseudorabies free. This testing requirement has caused most sale barns to no longer sell hogs because of the costs and difficulty having a veterinarian on site to draw blood. It has also caused most back yard hog producers to cease raising hogs because of the expense and difficulty involved in meeting the testing requirements. Complete swine regulations can be found at HYPERLINK http://www.arlpc.org www.arlpc.org under regulations. In 1987, when the Upjohn Company developed Tolvid pseudorabies vaccine was approved, the Upjohn Company stated that 8% of the US hog population was affected by the virus. In 2006, the National Pork Producers Council announced that the United States was free of pseudorabies.
In the United States today, any animal owner might experience the same depopulation tactics that the Henshaws just experienced. Regulations vary from state to state. Animal owners might be paid a portion of what the killed animals were worth. In most states, no warrant is required to enter the farm and tests are not required to confirm a disease. The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission regulations lay out specific guidelines for quarantine and depopulation that all animal owners should study. The Arkansas Animal Producer’s Association is proposing legislation to be considered by the 2007 General Assembly that would prevent a reenactment of the Virginia massacre in this state.
You can find additional discussion on NoNAIS.org about this incident in the comments of the following articles:
Cindi Henshaw’s initial letter to NoNAIS.org
Failice Sheep Disease Free comments
Sue Karber’s report from visit with the Henshaws
Storm Alert - Bill Oreilly
Definition of Terrorism
VA NAIS Info Meeting 9/11
MO Meetings 9/19
I am closing those articles to comments to focus the discussion here to keep it all together.
Also of interest is this article on the HenWhisperer’s blog.
In addition to the abuse of the depopulation there is question of the possibility that the EPA and similar government agencies may be using this as an excuse to depopulate small farms along rivers as a means of controlling pollutants. The irony there is one flooding of the septic fields of the big factory ‘farms’ will cause more damage to our waterways than all the small farms put together never mind the ongoing leakage from the big ‘farms’.
Another possibility that has occurred to me is that this sort of abuse may used to take people’s property and eliminate competition. I have a cousin who’s farm was taken by the town for a minor road adjustment. Turns out that the people who were really behind the move were developers who wanted my cousin’s prime agricultural fields for development. They got it for a song using eminent domain. The Henshaw Incident could be a similar tactic by unscrupulous people who would use governmental power for their own gain.
A big question is why is the media ignoring this story. This is very similar to what is happening with NAIS - the government is succeeding in keeping most people ignorant of the situation. The USDA has kept their plans for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) very low key trying to involve only the large stakeholders. We can fight that news blanket - Get the word out to blogs and discussion lists. Use the power of the internet. The situation has been confirmed so spread the news. You can refer people back to this article for confirmation. Just copy and paste the link from your browser.
Next write letters to your state and Congressional representatives (see the Contacts section of the right sidebar), the USDA and letters to the editor of your local newspapers. Get the word out while we still have the right to talk about these sorts of abuses of governmental power. Fight back now, not just for the Henshaws but because you could be next.
-WalterJ
Sugar Mountain Farm
in Vermont
Additional related reading on NoNAIS.org:
Deadly Euphemisms
Mafia Style Voluntary
Govi Double Speak
Hat tips to Jane, Becky, Dick, Sue, Doreen, Lisa, Sharon…
Update 9/29/06 5 pm: Derry Brownfield interviewed Danny Henshaw today on his radio show which is available as an MP3/Podcast download. This is a must listen!
Update 9/29/06 8 pm: The Big Oak Hunting Club owned by Douglas Eugene Davis Jr was also raided at 5 am today. See Mary’s comment.
Update 10/1/06 10:20 pm: Danny Henshaw will be on the Power Hour radio show.
Update 10/2/06 5:46 am: See the Henshaw Documents.
Update 10/5/06: The Hook, newspaper in Virginia, has come out with an article titled “Boar War” covering this story. This is the first major media coverage of the events. Keep writing to your local papers and the national media to get their attention.
Update 1/25/07: The Hook has an update on the Henshaw case.
Walter; Thank you for confirming the Henshaw incident and providing so many important details about same. When I first received an email on Friday, Sept. 29 about this incident, it was the first I had heard. (I missed Cindy’s first posting). I am of course shocked and outraged by this abuse of power by VA Dept. of AG and USDA. My heart goes out to the Henshaws. Is there any way that we can donate to them? Has any sort of fund been established to help with their legal fees, fines and restitution of their lost property? Cash donations cannot make up for what they have endured and are enduring at the hands of these (expletive deleted by writer)public servants. But it might help us to show solidarity with the Henshaws.
Comment Neil W. — September 29, 2006 @ 9:03 am
It would seem Ted Nugent would be all over this story. This CAN happen to us all. Our USDA and government is utterly out of control. This should never EVER happen in a free and democratic society. This is truly insane.
Comment Goatster — September 29, 2006 @ 9:17 am
Danny Henshaw is going to be on The Derry Brownfield Show today. An MP3 of the broadcast will be placed here after the show, so you can download and listen to it at anytime.
From the first moment reading Cindi’s comments I knew this had to be true. You can’t make this stuff up. I am horrified by what they have gone through. I am glad that the story is finally coming into the light with all the facts. Now it’s time to get it into the mainstream media.
Sue’s account of her visit is truely shocking as well–are there photos? Is there something to show the courts?
Walter is right in wondering what were the motives behind this attack. From the getgo I wondered if the “Agent” who had hunted on the farm didn’t have some sort of grudge or was there on a mission from the beginning.
Everytime we let someone we don’t know on our farm we open ourselves up to trouble. We were once turned in for having “toxic waste” dump–turns out our visitor saw a bunch of empty 5 gallon oil buckets and a football size diesel stain on the ground. The man from the EPA took it in stride when we pointed out the “visitors” car had left a much bigger oil spill on our driveway.
I just heard someone recommend a young couple register their beehives so they would be inspected regularly. Why?? They couple only has the bees to pollenate their orchard and have a bit of honey. What esle is the bee inspector going to see and report whilst on thier farm?
As Americans and Farmers we all have to stand against this action before it happens to us. In the history of American Farming, small farmers have banded together to help each other survive in the face of an un-relenting government and pressures from agri-corporaitions. In the 30’s vast quantities of hogs were slaughtered, liquified and turned into anything but food while farmers–the newly poor–starved. This was to drive hog prices up for the lucky few.
The situation these days is the same, I am afraid. Competition for resources, cash and markets creates craziness. People & Corporations will use anything excuse–disease, lapsed licensing, tax violations, eminent domain–to get their way. Thousands of farmers in the 80’s suffered a brutal economy only to have greedy bankers kick them in the nuts while they were grovelling. Sure some of them were in debt for millions, but others weren’t–they all lost their farms, and America began loosing more of its agricultural base and edge. Walter’s cousin is another example.
We need to block this sort of thing from happening in the future and help the Faillices and Henshaw’s and others in their position get their story out and their lives back.
Comment Podchef — September 29, 2006 @ 9:23 am
In April of this year, Maryland Dept of Agriculture found pigs on a farm to be infected with trichinosis. They quarentined the farm but didn’t return until this month to test more pigs or take any action (such as depopulation). When they FINALLY returned 104 or the quarentined 105 pigs were no longer there. It is possible that these pigs were taken to slaughter. Several pigs in areas immediately surrounding the farm in question have tested positive.
Seems the USDA and MDA treat animals that are truly infected with a disease that will make a human ill much differently than they treat healthy, well cared for, disease free animals and pets.
What a sick joke these sadistic bas****s are.
Comment Lee Schuler — September 29, 2006 @ 9:38 am
Please check out this link
link
Perhaps we can get the USA Today to start printing some of these horrific stories to get the word out.
Comment FarmGirl — September 29, 2006 @ 9:55 am
See this link to leave story suggestions to USAToday.
Comment walterj — September 29, 2006 @ 10:01 am
May GOD help us all.
Comment Suzy Minck — September 29, 2006 @ 10:01 am
#2. Just a minor correction. A Constitutional Republic:-)
Comment LuAnn — September 29, 2006 @ 10:21 am
I find this totally unacceptable what is trying to be done is UN American .. but then again, this is what has been happening ever since the Bush Regime got in …. This needs to be stopped, however is the present climate, I don’t believe that the common voice will be heard. Sadly.
Letting anyone on your private property against your wishes is not the freedom that America stands for.
Nancy Crusan
Comment Nancy Crusan — September 29, 2006 @ 10:29 am
Re: Post 3 - Podchef,
Bob Ehart was put in charge of studying ‘Domestic Bee Production’ for ID and tracking.
Hence your friend being asked to register the hives.
As for you friend that had the EPA agent on their land making noise about the fuel cans….
Go to Google, put in the search string: the state, TMDL and EPA
The USDA and EPA went into a joint partnership on TMDL (poop reduction)
Livestock waste was labeled a toxic waste under the Clean Water Act.
Since the Henshaws are being billed for this slaughter and admin costs, I speculate this was done as a Superfund site with the USDA partnering with the EPA on a bid contract they won.
Obviously, this is not how a disease quarantine is handled.
Comment Breederville — September 29, 2006 @ 10:30 am
After reading this I was sickened by the abuse and cruel way the pets were killed. As a small farm owner I would be in jail now because the people resonsible that did this would be shot as well. As a concerned citizen again animal abuse of any kind and this whole NAIS system trying to be implemented by the government is what we all fear will happen. I would be all over the news and vocal groups to tell this story. I feel for the Henshaws and your are right it could happen to any farmer. I also think the word should get on the TV or papers worldwide. Hiring a famous lawyer if they had the money would help. I can’t even think about coming home to the deaths of my animals and having to live there.
Comment deb fischer — September 29, 2006 @ 10:30 am
OMG! Podchef, post 3!
I’m listening to the Derry Brownfield Show.
I have to figure out how to get a hold of him.
They don’t have to pay for the animals under Superfund.
Comment Breederville — September 29, 2006 @ 11:10 am
This happened to another gentleman in neighboring Cumberland County. Eugene Davis had them rouse him from his bed at 5:00am, took him out in handcuffs and shot his hogs. I’m not sure what date it happened but he has a court date in December. They also told him that he would have to pay for the slaughter. He is in need of legal aid as he can’t fight this on his own.
[Is this in your area? Can you contact Mr. Davis and get him into the loop. Perhaps he and the Henshaws can fight together. Everyone, watch for similar incidents in your locals. Let’s network this. -WJ]
Comment Melony — September 29, 2006 @ 11:21 am
Everyone: All your livestock paper work, any tests that are done,vaccination records, anything, must be kept in a secure place, off your property. This is shamefull that we must have to live like this in the United States of America. To be fearfull of our very own Government.
Comment Gisela — September 29, 2006 @ 11:29 am
I just wrote L. Schwartz to see if he would do a story on the Henshaws has he has done articles on the NAIS.
Comment Gisela — September 29, 2006 @ 11:45 am
#12 Breederville–I don’t know the phone number–Derry usually says it at least once during the broadcast, but you can always email Jeff– jthomas@learfield.com He usually answers right away. When I sent him the link to Walter’s article, that’s when he told me Danny was going to be on the show.
Comment Podchef — September 29, 2006 @ 11:50 am
Thanks Podchef. I already found his blog and posted the info there.
Comment Breederville — September 29, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
The pig issues may be for eradication purposes (more than likely) or could fall under different programs which call for depopulation other than the USDA protocol. These programs have *broad* protocol and no accountability such as the emergency code. I am inclining to think it was used(the animal diease emergency code) as the authority for this raid. Mere suspicion, no warrant, confinement of people, arrest, cameras, mobile unit… sounds like the emergency animal disease code not the USDA depopulation protocol.
I am also suspecting these random raids will increase and result in a large raid of some type on farm animal owners. A crackdown of some sort as a result of some ‘event’, real or illusion. Programs need justification. Also, at the right time an impression needs to be made across the board to all animal owners. Please study similar historical situations where this same model has been used.
Have your ducks in a row and a plan. You can’t make a plan in the midst of a crisis. Make it NOW. Lay out about all possible scenarios. Be ready.
Comment Celeste — September 29, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
A note to Nancy Crusan; The Governor of VA (Tim Kaine) is a democrat. Why muddy the waters with reference to political party or to the Bush administration?
[Agreed, people. Remember, NAIS and other Constitutional violations were initiated by a bi-partisian group. This is not about political parties. Remember to vote on the issues and the candidates, not the party label. -WJ]
Comment Neil W. — September 29, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
I spoke with Mr Davis this morning for quite awhile. I need to get back to him with a few more questions. His eradication took place the same day as the Henshaw event, yet he had two facilities so that’s the three quarantine places.
Comment doreen — September 29, 2006 @ 1:30 pm
I’ve forwarded this to EVERYONE on my email list. Completely horrifyingly Soviet and despicable and sinister and …..you name it!!!!My heart rate is really up!
Comment lynn maust — September 29, 2006 @ 1:42 pm
This is so sick, this is so Satanistic. I haven’t been able to get this off my mind all day. My sister just moved to VA a month ago. I’ve been on the phone with her 3 times today. She lives only 50 miles from where this happened. NOT one word on the news. She thinks this is all made up. I am a God fearing woman and I know I should not kill. I would be a raving lunatic if anyone came on my place and did this to my girls. I can’t say I would not shed blood, it wouldn’t be my goats or my own. And as one other person on here said, I don’t think I could live there after that.
There are other things my state is dealing with, Gov. Perry made a deal to have tole roads built all over Texas and the land will be taken, any way they can get it. OH, the buyers are from other countries.
This is getting rediculous. Our country will fall, not from some other government power but from within.
Comment Suzy Minck — September 29, 2006 @ 3:05 pm
Get cozy with this Senate bill: S. 3930, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, would authorize the President to establish military commissions for the trial of alien unlawful enemy combatants.
It suspends habeas corpus rights. If you break a law, even a mideamenor, and your citizenship is determined by a military court! If you break a law you can disappear, tried by secret court, tortured, and killed.
Please look at this legislation and contact your respective public officials.
Hold on folks.. we on on one crazy ride.
[Also see the related bills in the link above. -WJ]
Comment Celeste — September 29, 2006 @ 3:52 pm
They did my brother the same way they did Danny. They was
at his house at 5:00a.m. in the
morning and took him to Cumberland and arrested him (Douglas Eugene Davis Jr)
Big Oak Hunting Club This is not a good thing to do to people.
Comment Mary — September 29, 2006 @ 6:12 pm
I sent an email to Ted Nugents website a month or two ago about NAIS haven’t heard back so far, I tried to again but now I can’t find the address (Anybody have it?).I just sent one to Farm Aid to ask them to look into this incident and maybe help the Henshaws out in some way and help us get the word out.
Comment LEE — September 29, 2006 @ 7:23 pm
Walter, Regarding this raid on the “Henshaws”(and the other fella) and Mary#24 comment, Do you think this may have something to do with the whole “Hunting club/Preseve” thing? I remember a while back the fringe anti- hunting crowd was fighting hard to shut down what “THEY” termed “Shooting in a can” hunting reserves,( their term,not mine), I think they were trying to ban hunting clubs and reserves at that time, they failed as I recall but of course they never really go away, they just wait for another opportunity. Do you suppose this could be what or who is actually behind some of this crap? Just a thought.
Comment LEE — September 29, 2006 @ 7:39 pm
I listened to Dan’s interview on Derry Brownfield today. Quite good.
Before the interview, a string of “raids” were briefly mentioned, including one in Maine at an Asian (Vietnamese I think)restaurant, where koi were confiscated. Again, it was a raid, for a few fish.
I did some research and found the following.
Interestingly enough, koi are illegal, but goldfish are not. And koi are really fancy carp. And right in the article it said the state is trying to keep GOLDFISH from getting into the river, yet keeping goldfish is legal. Are you following this logic as well as I am?
Plus, the state had transferred the guy’s fish to a pet store in NH. The guy in NH says he will SELL the man his fish back. Does that mean that the state of Mane SOLD the fish to him? If so, they made a pretty penny from them, as they are not cheap fish. And the bigger they get, the more they are worth.
Makes no sense that Maine is afraid people will release a $50 koi and bans them, but not concerend that a $2 goldfish will be released, which could end up doing the same damage. Oh, wait, in the article it stated they ARE concerned about some goldfish. I am soooo confused on this one. Buearucratic double talk?
Here is the article I found on the incident.
link
Comment Kim P. — September 29, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
I found, what looks like an update on the koi. The restaurant owner, according to this, did BUY his fish back and sent them to a relative in Mass.
These fish had been at his establishment for 15 years, and the law was just passed a few years ago. Hmmm….I hardly think that, after having these animals for 15 years, this guy was running a buy and release program for koi in the waters of Maine.
Another poorley, and unfairly handled job by our government. But remember, be it state or federal, “we’re the government and we’re here to help. Trust Us!” (Said the spider to the fly.)
Comment Kim P. — September 29, 2006 @ 9:20 pm
Oops…link for # 28
link
Comment Kim P. — September 29, 2006 @ 9:23 pm
Where are the pictures? I know many might not be able to see such and be comfortable, but to not have anything? Sorry, but this mess is so incredible I need something credible because it scares me to think the gov’t would/could do this..but then again I’m not surprised either I guess.
Comment Mary W — September 29, 2006 @ 9:27 pm
What I’d like to know is if you are faced with this atrocity from the Govt, how can you stop them from doing what they came to do? Seems to me they hold all the power, they can trump up charges, cart you off and commence wiith their shoddy firing squads on your animals. What recourse do you have after the fact?
[I am working on researching just these questions. Do so yourself and watch for an article to come. -WJ]
Comment Amy — September 29, 2006 @ 10:57 pm
BTW… I sent the link about this to Sean Hannity ( Tuned into america)
www.hannity.com
Comment Amy — September 29, 2006 @ 11:09 pm
Leo Schwartz wrote me back and has email Mr. Henshaw. I also provided him with the Derry Brownfield show to listen to the radio program, I also let him that a another person had his place hittoo. Leo wrote this article on NAIS:
link and is the Chairman for The Virginia Land Rights Coalition. this is about all I can do from up North. My heart goes out to the Henshaws and the other party.
Comment Gisela — September 29, 2006 @ 11:35 pm
Hi?
I still require some clarification: did the Henshaw’s break the law on any level?
I’m talking letter of the law.
No question they and Davies(was it) have suffered an outrage, but, in the PR war, are we suddenly going to find ourselves malcontents, on the wrong side of the law?
I don’t know why, but I am still concerned there is a whammy in here somewhere: so I must ask, did the Henshaw’s break the law on any level?
respects, Wm
Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 30, 2006 @ 2:02 am
Hey Wm,
The letter of the law says that hunting enclosures open to the public must have licenses from the state. These both were clubs with private membership fees, and not open to the public. So, no, the letter of the law wasn’t broken. According to Mr Davis, he bought some hogs IN Virginia a few years ago. So no interstate transport occurred…=d
Comment doreen — September 30, 2006 @ 6:47 am
Gisela, You are one of the most Intelligent and Caring People I have ever had the Pleasure to meet! This is Wonderful contacting Leo S!
My Lady, Angel of Alaska! BRAVO! For YOUR Intelligence!
The Man on High, has “Blessed” You, in helping CINDI and DANNY HENSHAW, of Gladestone, VA! God Bless Common Sense in You Girl!
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa 51534
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — September 30, 2006 @ 6:47 am
The Scriptures do not say “Thou shalt not kill ” it says. “Thou shalt not WILLFULLY commit murder.” Killing a RAIDER is an act of war.
[Please continue to work within the system to effect non-violent change. Now is not the time for revolution but evolution. The elections are coming, vote. Also remember that communications, by email, phone and other means, are monitored by the government as is being discussed in the mainstream press. Don’t say anything you’ll regret. -WJ]
Comment Arklady — September 30, 2006 @ 9:03 am
It is interesting that on the West Coast there have been two separate E. Coli/Raw Milk outbreaks this past month–both in different states, both involving a few children. Both Dairies are respected in their field and maintain the highest quality–usually.
You would think that a deadly-to-humans disease like E. Coli where children were involved would be treated heavy-handed–quarenteened animals, closed down operations, etc.(Mind you I don’t agree with that method in any event) Instead a self-regulated recall is in place and both dairies are cooperating fully.
So why then in VA such a breach of procedure and trust for a disease which doesn’t affect humans and is only minimally contageous via direct or close contact? Is it a southern thang? Is it because of other large-scale pig farmers applying pressure in the area? If this was MO, I would say for sure–over 1/4 of the nations hogs are raised there.
This needs to be addressed both before the election in Nov. and through the election. There needs to be Federal limits placed on the actions and jurisdicition of these camando-style farm raids. Game wardens, USDA Goons–since when did they have powers of tresspass, arrest and slaughter like they were the ATF, FBI or Local Cops. Heck even the local cops would call FBI or ATF for a drug sting. This has to come from a lack of clarity in a hastily drawn, anti-constitutional Patriot Act. Every Cowboy in the Union under the Stars and Stripes it seems can do what they want in the name of Bush’s newly defined “patriotism”.
I think we will find, in the coming days that the Henshaw’s and the Davies aren’t the only ones such treats, but let’s hope they are the last. May God be with them.
Comment Podchef — September 30, 2006 @ 9:30 am
If you break your neck, if you have “nothing” to eat because of the blood sport, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience.
If you’re going through hell, keep going.
People, you may not like me, but by GOD, you had better listen to me!
There is only ONE WAY, everyone is going to survive this “crisis,” in the making.
All of you; had better UNITE in a FURY, against this EVIL, by Lawful means, and quit this “fooliness” of pride, thinking you are going to be a hero or show up the next guy.It is pointless.
The government’s alleged goal, and I mean the entire government, not political party(s), is to divide; is to WIN control of the people!
This grassroots, fight is split, and the “DEVIL” himself is at your doorstep. It has already raped the lives, of 2-3 families we know of, and will effect their lives forever. You think you got a shell of protection around you, by hiding? Wrong! Evil knows “no” friends!
And still you all bicker, and disagree. Questioning truth in your face. Every lie, is woven in a thin layer, of truth, wrapped around it. That is why it works. The government knows this, and has effectively, put this movement of truth down, without even ONE media taking note.
I say: As my FINAL REVELATION to you all. And you can take this to the bank. And if you don’t, you only have the “blood” bank to look forward to, and that is not a joke!
I Say: MY Final Statement Period!
People, Unite Now, in the “FURY” of God, and tell this Government, in no uncertain terms, according to the Laws of the Land, that this “act” and “murder” is;
“UNACCEPTABLE.” PERIOD!
I say: “Take your weaknesses and make them your Strengths.”
God’s Speed, People! Because, the removal of your ability to make a living, without your animals, because they are being “murdered” and you, being “billed” outragously for the rest of your lives, by government,for the assault they did to you, is out of control.
Their “Secret” Policies, and regulations, will make you the “slave” that you have never known for 200 years. Nor will you escape their bondage if you “FAIL” now!
I shall and always will, remain….Your Friend!
There will most likely be, no further public comment, by me.
I have stated the Truth, and what needs to be done. What more can I do, or say. It’s up to YOU now! All of You!
Unite or Die a slow financial, lack of food, death, divided and alone, or worse, is the probable outcome; if not a lack of other options or choice.
No freedom; means it’s over, as life has been known by you all.
What does it take to awake the dead? Before it is too late?
I Say: I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — September 30, 2006 @ 9:45 am
On the Derry Brownfield Show, Danny Henshaw spoke. The one thing I find that is really trouble some is that killing comes first before testing.
Comment Gisela — September 30, 2006 @ 10:09 am
I don’t know if it is really the USDA’s goal to eliminate small farms or not but they are certainly doing a good job. The publicity about this case is making people hesitant to enter the business. A gentleman who has been talking to me for some time about starting a pastured pig farm just wrote me that he now has serious reservations given that the fundimental Constitutional protections are being ignored here in the USA. I have asked him to comment here - hopefully he will. Ironically, Virginia was one of his top picks for the location.
Comment walterj — September 30, 2006 @ 10:18 am
Think of setting up something like a web camera which will catch the government agents entering your property. Think about how they might jam it to. Amazon has many with reviews of how good they are. (Im not trying to promote Amazon.)
Get yourself a groups of people who check with each other regularly so it is know if someone drops out mysteriaously. Use many ways of communicating not just e-mail or telephone. Keep the group small and unconnected to.
If you have one of those cellular telephones that can do web browsing and text messages then use to use web access and text messaging and make sure your kids know how to do it too in an amergansy. Some cellular telephones can also act as web cameras and digital cameras for documenting what the government is doing.
Remember the Rodney King video taping in Los Angeles in the USA that sparked riots. The goverment fears exposure and documenting of their travesties. That incident killed the Los Angeles police credibility.
Remember Ruby Ridge? The US Goverment went in and killed a man’s family and he fought back. I wood not go so far as to say Mr. Weaver won but the government sure lost. Let’s not let it go that far. Document. Commacate. Do not let them isolate us.
Why I ask did it take so long for the Henshaw’s story to come out and why I ask is the newspaper and television ignoring the story?
Comment Dirk Gently — September 30, 2006 @ 11:00 am
Big sigh out of me!
Since I was a little kid I dreamed of being able to farm. Not just a hobby farm but a farm that produces. I always have had a few chickens, horses and other assorted critters. Even growing up on LI, NY I had them. Now I’m 47 years old and finally have the room to do it. My husband and I paupered ourselves to buy the farm that had been in his family for 250 years from a cousin who inherited it and didn’t care. He chopped it up and sold it to developers. We bought the house and what land we could afford from the cousin. It is my intention to raise heritage turkeys and pastured poultry as well as continue with my garden ornamentals. NAIS has scared the pants out of me. I have my pet birds that are well loved. My meat birds I’ve managed to seperate myself from but still they deserve their short lives to be good ones and scratch in the dirt, eat grass and bugs and stretch out in the sunshine. Men in lab suits snapping their necks shouldn’t enter into the picture.
The farm has been here since the 1750’s. The swales that drain the land date from that time. Now they need to be redone, been ages since they were maintained. Since we no longer have the money to purchase the equipment we have had to apply for a gov’t grant to redo the swales. Create a manure pad and all that other good stuff. I actually fear them coming to look at the land. I fear loosing the grandfathering on the wetlands drainage. Without the swales this will revert to a bog and then be claimed by the river. All I can do is continue on like NAIS isn’t there. But I’m scared. I watch my little girl ride her horse across the field or hitch the goats up to a wagon and wonder if my grandchildren will be able to do the same.
We are from the government and we are here to help. Scares the daylights out of me. I should be doing my domestic diva thing but I find myself pondering mad sheep and wild pigs instead. I think I’ll just go outside and let the turkeys dance around me. Much more soothing.
Comment Sue F — September 30, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
Sue F.-If it is not to late drop your application for *finanical incentive* to redo your swales. Have your neighbors help or develop another creative idea. These are times you don’t want the strings that come with financial incentives. We are all struggling financially. There is one lesson we can learn from Third World countries and that is joy in the midst of poverty. We need to protect that joy no matter what happens. Right now we have choices but sorry to say the day will come when we don’t. So we need to learn from ones who went before us and first walked in these foot steps.
Comment Celeste — September 30, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
There have been so many excellent comments about this unbelievable violation of the Henshaw’s lives, that I feel strangely at a loss for words, and totally unqualified to offer advice, etc. As Neil W. commented (#1), I, too, would like to donate to a fund for the Henshaws. Maybe we should set up a fund that could be tapped into for any family that is pillaged like this.
There is a fairly recent landowners’ organization that I can’t remember where I first learned about - it was on the internet, for sure. It is the National Association of Rural Landowners (NARLO), founded by Ron Ewart. I am not advocating joining the association - that is up to the individual. His website says all the right things, and that was impressive. I did a word search on Mr. Ewart, and I found some interesting articles that I believe he wrote. If they were written by him, I would suggest that people do the research, because some of his views may not coincide with theirs. I believe people with different views can be just as patriotic as the next person, but we each have to decide for ourselves. Anyway, he does have “No Trespassing” signs for sale to anyone, that make reference to USC Title 18, Sections 241 and 242. I know an out-of-control government can crash right past such a sign, but it might start a discussion with neighbors as to why we need to protect ourselves.
I would like any comments out there on the organization NARLO, and the “No Trespassing” signs. I see that as a result of the Patriot (ha!) Act, there is a change to Title 18, Section 3056(e) that refers to “a special event of national significance”.
One more item: Is anyone an expert on land patents or allodial titles? I have been mildly researching this off and on for years. Any thoughts.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — September 30, 2006 @ 2:17 pm
NARLO link:
link
Comment Texas Goat Gal — September 30, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
Hi:(
So the Henshaw’s were not cited or charged in any manner?
There’s no paper trail? None? That’s not what I’m hearing Danny say on Derry’s broadcast.
Just because the facts are on our side, that this WAS an unnecessary outrage(WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEVE), does not mean we will win the perceptual war of media sound bytes. That is, if we could get any mainstream media to tell this story(in any fashion, let alone in the sustained manner it deserves-that so many outrages against our Constitutional deserve but are ignored or glossed over).
Whatdoya think, could this be twisted on the nightly news into,
“HEALTH CRISIS in VIRGINIA AVERTED BY PROMPT GOVERNMENTAL ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL HUNTING OPERATION”
and left pretty much at that excepting a couple of ‘Gee Whiz that was a close’ official types speaking from their moon suits. As Danny points out, he was told his was, “an illegal operation”. Is MSM going to invite Danny in to refute that perception? And even if you were invited, would you be allotted enough ‘time’ to do so successfully? Even if you had two unedited minutes?! And would it be repeated over and over again like the space shuttle disaster, e.g.
If any yall really believe they don’t want to ruin small farmers, I say you are in DENIAL?
I say why are yall here then if you believe such silliness?
Aren’t you here because APHIS, NIAA, USDA have gone to years of trouble developing rules, the ramifications of which, will severely restrict your rights, your ability to do business or especially to live a quiet peaceable life on yer own land(but what say ye Mr’s Davis and Henshaw). Isn’t that why you’re here, because they are coming for you, say it out loud, THEY ARE COMING FOR MY WAY OF LIFE.
And what else, OH YEAH, the vast majority of media and politician’s don’t want to take a stand favoring us(not an unequivocal one), nor favoring the US Constitution, in these matters.
How much proof do you need, the BANG on your door?! I think that’s what it will take before we unite in any productive fashion.
Do yall think the internet is going to remain an open information free movement zone forever?
You have been educated here about the fact that this site and others are being monitored, and still some rage foolishness.
Nothing is secret on the net. The government has better toys than Walter folks. Unfortunately …
This was done with absolutely no justification, without paperwork huh? If that is the case, it’s even more reason to mind Dean’s warning:
“All of you; had better UNITE in a FURY, against this EVIL, by Lawful means, and quit this “fooliness” of pride, thinking you are going to be a hero or show up the next guy. It is pointless.”
And I would add, ‘nor blog our way out of this’. The net is great for now but as with NAIS there are plans to restrict the free movement of information on the net too. What then, when that finally takes place all of a sudden. When Walter’s cost suddenly goes from a couple to tens of thousands and emails have postage costs attached to each one?
I just listened to Danny say that many of the authorities said to him they were only there killing his boars because ‘they had to’. What a bunch of gutless wonders. Yall realize of course, gutless wonders aren’t on the endangered species list though you are.
You know why the government is going to win, on every point, too many Americans are practical cretins obviously incapable of the critical thinking required to see what is right before their eyes. If you believe otherwise, you’re in denial about this too.
You’ll remain in my prayers of course! Do call me when you have a real plan of action. The Talent bill ain’t it. You need numbers and to borrow a once respected concept, ’solidarity’. Diffused blogs and efforts will not win this battle. Make no mistake your lives are at stake. Take Danny Henshaw when Derry asked if he would start over, essentially Danny said he would start over in a couple of years IF IF IF he could be assured this wouldn’t happen again. Would you believe such assurances from the people who just traumatized your way of life and also lied about their plan of action?
Good success, Wm
Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 30, 2006 @ 2:50 pm
Sue F.
It is not my intent to tell you your business but I would be very cautious about dealing with any govt program/help as Celeste said there are usually strings, if not chains, attatched to any “help” you may recieve, I hope you succede and can fix those swales. Also don’t let all this get you down, we all have doubts and fears right now and nagging questions about where this is all going to end up, but we do have to “live” in today and “plan” for tommorrow, this mess looks bad and it is, but worse things have happenened to folks and some of the worst threats were also overcome by folks just like you and others who met a challenge and overcame it, perhaps this too shall pass, and if not we will all find a way to stop/nullify it when we have to, in the meantime lets not panic, lets be realistic but not fatalistic. We face a grave threat, but we have not been defeated, not by a long shot we must continue to remain calm and steadfast to focus on what must be done and to not allow “fear” to push us to dispair or to react in a manner that causes us to do something rash or premature, lets keep our focus and take this slow and steady. We have many bridges to cross before this is over, lets work on where we are right now and plan our actions/reactions when that next bridge is before us.
Comment LEE — September 30, 2006 @ 3:04 pm
Sue F:
There is an older Executive Order, sorry i cannot recall which one, that states that anyone who has ever taken Federal monies for the improvement of their farm are also giving the Feds rights to their property as federal collateral.
Check with the Paragon Foundation. A link is available at derrybrownfield.com. They seemed to be very helpful in the area of property rights protection.
Don’t do, there are strings attached.
Best of success, Wm-)
Comment Mr Dirty Nails — September 30, 2006 @ 3:09 pm
SueF–
I completely sympathize with you. I come from a long line of farmers. However with my parents coming out of the depression, it skipped a generation. Now, I am an accidental farmer. When I burnt out from grad school 16 years ago I came out west to work at a Raw Milk Dairy owned by Benedictines on an island. A year and a half of the farm life and I didn’t want to leave. Penniless I got married to a local girl and we began to homestead on her familiy’s land. We built a house by the sweat of our brow and had a passle of kids.
Before going and thinking we’re some sort of neo-hippies, we’re not. Straight down the middle conservatives. I once was going to be a vet, but veered off towards being a lit. professor. I dreamed of co-eds and cushy white-collar work.
In 14 years of married, island life we have tried to farm blueberries, raise cattle, swine, and chickens. I spent 10 years lured by the riches of a construction boom until I was rewarded with a degenerative disability. Meanwhile we lost field and grazing rights through property sales and family land disputes–carpentry was going to pave the way, we didn’t need to farm as well.
When I could no longer walk on a job site without being in pain I leaned on my other passion–cooking. The more I cooked for others and found time to study and be attuned to the world of food and ingredients the more I know the things we raised for ourselves were the best there was ever going to be.
Over the past 3 years we’ve begun to raise our flocks up, increase the number of meat birds we raise each year, get a calf, some sheep, plan to move to a larger property so we can increase our business to cook the food we raise for customers and serve it to them at farm dinners. With time off for European restaurant experience–which opened my eyes to how food should be rasied, treated and served–we have slowly moved this dream forward. Enter the NAIS and a USDA already biased against the small, the local, the independant.
It is so frustraiting that most days, if I had any hair left–we have all daughters–I would pull it all out. The collusion of Big-Ag Corps and the Government has layed waste to rural America almost from the founding of the country, but especially since the 70’s. Nevertheless, this is America and we are Americans–we can overcome this latest brutality or die trying for our childrens’ and childrens’ children’s sake. If I can’t farm or raise my own meat and veg in freedom I don’t know what I would do.
The sweet heat, and scent of a cow’s flank during milking, the squeel of piglets, cluck of mamma hens calling their chicks, the snap of a freshly dug carrot, slicing into a homemade sausage–these things are in my blood and are infecting my children. Some how every American’s Right to Farm as they see fit must be fought for and won back. The momentum is gaining, we are winning allies and the truth shall be known. Keep the faith.
Comment Podchef — September 30, 2006 @ 3:39 pm
Sue,
Get a quote on how much it will cost to have an excavator come in and do the work. A big Cat 320 may be able to do the work for you in just a few hours at $125 per hour plus $100 move-in and $100 move out. Total cost may be significantly less than $1,000. Don’t work with the government unless you have to do so.
-Walter
Comment walterj — September 30, 2006 @ 4:00 pm
While I think the behavior and manner of the USDA raid at Henshaw’s is reprehensible–the proper methods and protocol were not obeyed–and that this is a crime in and of itself, there has been the motto–”it takes two to tango” in the back of my mind.
After listening to Danny on the Derry Brownfield Show I had an “ah ha” moment–Danny said the state dude asked him to send him a statement in writing verifying what they had spoke of over the phone, and Danny said that he felt that his word was enough and he didn’t need to spend 34 cents to repeat what he just said. That right there is a problem. Get it in writing–from both sides. A man’s word of honor doesn’t exist in Government. Danny’s hogs might have been lost for 15 minutes of time and 34 cents–although I fear it goes far deeper than that given the nature of the campaign against him.
I am sorry to say hindsight is 20/20 but this is a lesson to us all. Get it in writing. File the paperwork that will protect you and your actions. I took a county officials word of honor once and when she was fired I narrowly escaped with my business because the next inspector had a different attitude towards “shades of meaning” and the “letter of the law”. Now when I want to do something which is in a grey area I ask the proper officials and get them to sign off on it–in writing–before I move ahead. That usually covers the bases and the officials appreciate not having to do their job.
[Agreed. Get things in writing. Failing to do so can hurt. I have had three instances of people telling me their word was their bond in the past four years and then had them go back on it twice in a major way. Document. Document. Document. Especially when you are dealing with an 800 lb gorilla like the government. 34¢ is cheap insurance. Another thing I do is every time I talk with sales, support, etc I get their extension or agent number, name and make notes about the conversation. AddressBook makes this easy to do. If appropriate ask for emailed confirmation. If important get signed paper confirmation. Annoying but important. -WJ]
Comment Podchef — September 30, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
The feds just keep racheting up the ‘war on terra’. Bless their hearts, I feel a lot safer!
agterrormeet
Comment donna — September 30, 2006 @ 6:46 pm
This is interesting, but I am not being funny here, if you read into what just happened to CINDI and DANNY HENSHAW, Gladestone, VA.
The NAIS “Storm Trooper” Creed is almost the same as the; “DOG PROPERTY LAW”
1. If I like it, it’s mine.
2. If it’s in my mouth, it’s mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I’m chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it’s mine.
8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you drop it, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it’s broken; by NAIS “Storm Troopers,” a “downer,” or diseased, it’s yours.
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa 51534
IOWANS AGAINST NAIS
NAIS = NAzIS!
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — September 30, 2006 @ 8:27 pm
It is disturbing to hear about the on-goings at Henshaw farm, a military styled operation with armed guards and the slaughter of un-tested animals. This makes us very nervous about investing into pig farming or any livestock holdings. This week pigs, next week beef. Whatever next? The law is seemingly not there to protect the farmers rights. How can this happen in 2006 and in America? Acceptable standards maybe.. in some third world countries, but not in the USA! From the outside this looks more like the actions of an old communistic regime similar to the style in Poland where I conducted business with in the past. I admit Virginia was a state that we favored to purchase a farm which has us now re thinking our plans.
I would be interested to hear if there is an organized body, that is there to protect the farmers rights or at least advise them of their rights before such drastic draconian action is taken like in this incident. Some governing body must to be held accountable. It will be interesting to hear their rationality and reasoning for such barbaric & cruel actions taken. How will this governing body (who ever they are) ever be able to win over and gain the trusts of livestock breeders in the future? Through their own actions, they have caused irreparable damaged for many years to come.
Our thoughts are with the owners of the Henshaw farm.
Nigel
in France
Comment Nigel from France — October 1, 2006 @ 5:53 am
Nigel,
There is a group in Virginia you may want to contact, especially if you go there. They are the Virginia Independent Consumers & Farmers Association. Ask them about their thoughts on this whole incident with the Henshaws. Keep me posted.
-Walter
Comment walterj — October 1, 2006 @ 7:11 am
Everyone, email any and all “FOREIGN” Country News Media, bypassing the USA Government controlled media,that won’t cover these issues anyway.
“We” will get this crisis message out about CINDI & DANNY HENSHAW and the Intentional Destruction done by “Storm Troopers.”
Then send a second email to the same address of “foreign News Media” about the problems of the NAIS, like the COnstitutional and Liberty Property Right’s issues, in NAIS.
This will work, because most Foreign media, has space for United States Issues. And we will get the “WORLD” informed, which will in turn, inform the United States People, and make the USA Media themselves, useless and not needed.
Also in a “SIGN” of PROTEST, every American, CANCEL your subsriptions to any USA News Media, to include cable, and TV, as well, as Newspapers, and TELL THEM WHY! You Cancelled.
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
IOWANS AGAINST NAIS
[I hesitate to advise this type of disengagement for two reasons: 1) we’re a small minority and they’ll not notice the blip of us and 2) we need to stay informed & involved in the process as slimey as it is. On the other hand, you can get your news on the web which is often faster and more accurate despite what Ann Landers thought. :) -WJ]
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 1, 2006 @ 7:32 am
Could this be the smoking gun? I have thought all along that the Henshaws were targeted for one of two reasons - either some fat cat wanted their land, or it was done “for the environment”. I don’t know just how close their land is to the Willis River, but I find that the Willis River is a short tributary of the James River. There are plans to establish a “greenway” the entire length of the James River in Virginia. Go to:
link
Click on “Greenways”. I would assume since the James River separates Nelson and Buckingham counties, the same is proposed in Buckingham county. I wanted to get this posted asap, and haven’t checked out Buckingham County’s plan. Even more telling is something called the “Willis River Implementation Plan”, dated June, 2005. Just do a word search, as it is the only hit with Google. I got an error message for the PDF version, but it popped up on HTML. On page 4 of the report:
“The Willis River TMDL Implementation Plan focuses on human and livestock reductions. Water quality modeling has shown that the Willis River can be removed from the impaired waters list by addressing human and livestock sources of bacteria.”
I only briefly scanned the rest of the report, but this quote says it all for me.
We all know government is much better at preserving the land than actual property owners, and we can’t be trusted to love and care for it. Right?
Comment Texas Goat Gal — October 1, 2006 @ 11:25 am
Someone farther up the thread mentioned HSUS, PETA and their associated radical animal rights groups. Bear with me; I can’t make the point without some background.
Because Wayne Paycelle (CEO, HSUS) wears suits and speaks well enough to be a desireable interview on the tube (he is a marketing graduate from Harvard) makes him no less radical than those who sink whaling ships or blow up labs and vandalize fur farms.
The media is deeply committed to the AR cause, if not to their agenda. (though at least one ‘investigative reporter’ is himself a vegan who focuses heavily on AR issues) AR issues always bump the ratings and the readership. I have nothing against vegans, but I don’t think they should be making animal laws and dietary policies for the world. And our government has been infiltrated.
Can I prove it? Only by pointing to the results. Since HSUS (which recently absorbed the Doris Day Animal League) has been run by Pacelle, it has become a multibillion dollar non-profit which inteferes globally in people’s right to own and work all kinds of animals, from pets to livestock. Early this year he very nearly succeeded in declaring sighthounds dangerous breeds. He and Senator Santorum very nearly got PAWS passed. Recent animal ordinces in CA and NM will make it a near certainty that a lot of responsible pet owners will face abuse indictments, if not convictions.
But with the legal eagles coming down so heavily on the AR side of the law, I’m sure they’ll see the convictions too. And consider the pig farming fiasco in Florida - one of the few places where the AR contingent took on commercial farming.
Where are the attorneys who would help us fight for our rights to raise our own food and keep and raise purebred pets? Or any other kind? But .. purebred stock, whether pigs, sheep, dogs, cats, guinea pigs or any other kind of purebred animal are a major target for these groups. Heritage breed owners take note …
Clearly, if they were honest about their goals, people would give them the proverbial finger and quit contributing to their ’cause’, which at the moment is ‘animal welfare’, a term which they have co-opted and redefined, as they are redefining the term ‘animal abuse’ to suit their agenda. They have *very* deep pockets, and no apparent ethics at all.
And what, you are wondering, has this to do with Danny’s hogs?
Animal Rightists doesn’t care how they eliminate hunting and meat eating, and they have discovered that it is MUCH more effective to buy politicians and legislation at all levels, from local ordinances to Federal - than to fund the kind of animal terrorism we usually associate with them. PAWS is again rearing its ugly head people.
Politicians and agribiz corporations don’t care how they accomplish their goals either - and it looks like small farmers, pet owners, and everybody but the corporate concerns are the targets. We are being whipsawed between two totally out of control interests - agribiz and the animal rights zealots - temporary allies in the get animals out of the hands of individuals camp.
When between them they succeed in taking animal husbandry out of the hands of individuals, no doubt they will split up, but by then it will be too late. Or maybe I am too conservative, and the ARists have convinced the bureaucrats that eating meat should be a crime too, in which case the corporate feed lot will be an easy mark. But no matter, one way or another we need to stop this now.
My heartfelt sympathies to Danny and Cindi and the others who have been victimized in this travesty. We do need to get the word out. So far my personal efforts have been unsuccessful; the only kind of abuses the media will talk about is the kind where they can convict the animal owner by accusation.
Sorry to be so long winded, but it is all of a piece - We, too, want to retire out where we can keep a few chickens and maybe some sheep and the odd steer, as well as the hounds and our housecats. We’re not giving up the dream over all this, but it really begins to look bad.
In some states, Oregon being one, all incumbents and candidates except ONE support the AR agenda and NAIS.
Where does that leave us? I don’t see many Oregonians on this forum, and this kind of confirms my impression that they don’t believe there is a problem.
Maybe we can still knock this down before all the range and pasture raised meat disappears.
That would get their attention.
Comment Lynn — October 1, 2006 @ 12:08 pm
Has anyone verified the Story on the KOI? What I have Read here on NONAIS so far the Koi were not diseased, Right? Just outlawed. If anyone can verify this please post it here.
[Follow the link in the original comment. -WJ]
Comment Gisela — October 1, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
It looks like there was some press attention regarding Willis River. Because the address is sooo long, just search “Wildlife Waste is Major Water Polluter, Studies Say”, Washington Post, **Sept. 29, 2006**. [Here’s the link. -WJ] The article is so full of quotes, and “Chuck Frederickson, an environmentalist who is keeper of the James River” is mentioned. The whole article is about wildlife and livestock polluting the water.
Also, found another document referring to the Willis River:
“DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) in cooperation with the Peter Francisco Soil and Water Conservation District led the development of an IP (Implementation Plan) for the Willis River watershed in Buckingham and Cumberland Counties and is pursuing the implementation of BMPs (Best Management Practices).” I added the clarification in parenthesis, and the lack of commas is theirs, not mine.
This is dated “Draft 2006″:
link
Comment Texas Goat Gal — October 1, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
I heard a woman speak on Radio Liberty about the UN Agenda 21 being behind the push for government control of watersheds & waterways. Land owners losing their land along a creek in California because of this push created a citizen action group called Freedom 21 Santa Cruz at this link:
Freedom21
Comment donna — October 1, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
State Testing for Compliance & Status?
From GAO 05-214, Page 5-“To test these protocols and response capability in general, federal and state officials are conducting test exercises.”
“Finally, state and industry officials told us there is no mechanism to share lessons learned from federal and state or industry test exercises or real-life animal and plant disease outbreaks.”
pg 29 NAIS draft, Section 4 B, This section is on testing (measuring progress) on NAIS (and maybe other systems as well) to determine state status, they use pseudo-rabies as an example (an OIE Class B disease). It makes sense because they have to have 2 annual tests every year and reports are due quarterly as a requirement for funding. The yearly report on animal disease is due December 1, 2006.
From ESF #11:
State Ag Dept. “Issues, quarantines, embargoes, or hold orders, and oversees the implementation and enforcement of restricted, embargoed, or quarantined areas determined by the Primary Decision Group (PDG), with the assistance of the other State and federal supporting agencies. Because time is of the essence in an animal health emergency, quarantines, embargos, or hold orders may initially be issued verbally but will be documented by written order as soon as practical.”
[People, this is an extremely important comment. Who is going to be the next exercise? Gotta keep those government bootjacks in tip-top shape. -WJ]
Comment Celeste — October 1, 2006 @ 9:05 pm
Celeste, thanks for shining the light of Truth into these dark and creepy corners.
It’s apparent from this that they can do anything they can dream up for any reason and call it an exercise, or that “time was of the essence. . .we’ll file the paperwork later” and boom, not document trail to follow, no proof of action, no constitution.
Makes me fear the threat of Avian Flu all the more because it hasn’t been found in 99% of the US–yet.
Means that no matter how well we are prepared, or how good our defenses they could lob a shell clear over and destroy us anyway. It is clear we need to organize at regional and state levels in solidarity to overthrow this totalitarian mindset which has taken hold of our government. November is the time to make a statement–vote out useless incumbents, stop voting the party line and vote for the best candidates suited for the jobs.
We need to find candidates who are anti-nais, anti-big government who can actually win. My district’s best hope for US Rep lost the primary in a landslide against her. Too bad because she was one of the good ones, on our side.
We have not had major disease outbreaks in the US for a long time. The USDA won’t test for mad cow, but now they are trying to create problems where they don’t exist. We can’t even rely on the budget to break and stop the USDA–they have too much private, corporate (NIAA) financing. No, we have to be vigilant, get the word out as much as we can and use the power of the law and truth to back us in our fight.
And as Celeste has proven, we’d better do our homework and be more on top of this stuff then the feds.
Comment Podchef — October 1, 2006 @ 10:43 pm
Regarding #63 Would test excercise # 2 wouldnt that have been Eugene Davis?
Test excersice #1 then Danny Hanshaw. Would all 50 States then have test Excercise?
Comment Gisela — October 1, 2006 @ 11:35 pm
Concerning a famous lawyer:
Gerry Spence defended Randy Weaver and won. He shredded the prosecutions arguments to the point that one of the attornies had a nervous breakdown before the trial was over, and when the prosecution rested its case, Gerry rested as well. He won the case by tearing up the prosecution.
He lives in Jackson Hole, WY
Concerning jurisdiction:
Is not a county sherrif classified as the highest law enforcement official within any state? Doesn’t the county sherrif have to be notified of any activity taking place?
Maybe I should ask Sherrif Joe Arpio here in Az. Give him the documentation I have been collecting and see if he knows anything about NAIS!!!
I need to find a good book on civics.
Comment sam — October 2, 2006 @ 1:03 am
The way I see it is that, at this point in time the Established Political system is holding all the aces. We can’t insert an innocent into that system with out having all the facts. And let’s face it they aren’t exactly telling us all of the Executive orders that have been written, neither have they shown us the next card they are going to play in this game of poker. As long as we fear what they can do they hold the upper hand. Information isn’t where its at anymore because they have all the experts and hold a lot of degrees. If the ppl in Washington who work for us were not so scared of losing their job or reputation we might stand a chance. But as long as any person who goes into Washington(DC) to hold an office or “help the people” they are going to be subjected to terrible amounts of harassment, character assination, and who knows what all else. As long as it stays that way. Then that system is in charge. Like it or not other means are going to be needed to beat this monster. They have been stonewalling us for years and they will continue to do so because it works.
Arklady
Comment Arklady — October 2, 2006 @ 8:28 am
Walter, thanks for posting the docs.
Wow. Capturing devices? Depopulation equipment? And they still needed shotguns? Obviously this was a well thought through, calculated extermination effort. So why did they rush it through and botch the job?
It appears there was never any real desire for quarentine or “properly test[ing]” given the outcome and the timing.
But on a technical point–the quarentine order states that it is in effect until either disease is found or not or the State Vet breaks the order–in writing. It also states that breaking the order and removing quarentined animals from the enclosure will suffer up to a 12 month jail sentance and $2500.
Seems to me the USDA, game wardens and anyone else is in violation of the quarentine order–79 times, once for each animal slaughtered. They removed animals–where is the state vet’s letter saying the quarentine is up? Each one of those who removed the animals, and spread “infected” “quarentined” blood should be subject to the penalty over an above any imposed in rectifying their other criminal intent.
Given how badly those involved have botched this job–or “test case”–be sure they will be more in control and have all their i’s dotted and t’s crossed when they come after the rest of us.
Comment Podchef — October 2, 2006 @ 8:36 am
I have posted HERE Virginia’s Section 303(d) compliance documents with the EPA that shows Virginia Commonwealth had reduction plans for livestock along tributaries that empty into Virginia’s 3 watersheds.
See post 3 of the Willis River Hunting preserve - Henshaws topic forum.
Comment Breederville — October 2, 2006 @ 8:42 am
Each county, state, and the federal government need to do exercises on their programs. Each agency needs to be involved in these exercises for secure funding, certification which results in state status.
These events can be of various types such as real-time or table-top or real events.
Comment Celeste — October 2, 2006 @ 8:55 am
The hens are squawking at me and the pup is nipping at my heels, but I just finished listening to the Power Hour–what a great interview! Well done Danny!
I wish I could have recorded it for those who missed it, but my software wasn’t cooperative.
This was a much better show than the Derry Brownfield interview. I really hope this helps get a flood more people behind this issue. I will be spending some more time this morning after the hens are happy writing more emails, hopefully to people who will take on this cause in the press.
Comment Podchef — October 2, 2006 @ 9:05 am
Maybe I’m just technically challenged but I’m having a hard time finding Mr. Henshaw’s interview on the Derry Brownfield site. How pointers?
Thanks!
[Mia, look in the right sidebar under Radio shows for the Brownfield on Henshaw Incident. Also see the links at the end of the Henshaw Incident article in the updates and early comments. Or go here. -WJ]
Comment Mia Bagley — October 2, 2006 @ 9:08 am
RE: 66 - Sam
>>>Concerning jurisdiction:
Is not a county sherrif classified as the highest law enforcement official within any state? Doesn’t the county sherrif have to be notified of any activity taking place?
Hi Sam, I belive the Game Warden’s and Park Rangers are under Federal Juristiction. So the sheriff is not the highest law enforcement officer.
As to the juristiction of the Henshaw’s location, it is MY OPINION that the action was being taken under the EPA/TMDL guidelines. And, if I’m correct, then the stream near the Henshaw’s property was within the correct distance to designate their property as a Watershed Tributary border.
linkSe my post three here at the Willis River Hunting preserve topic forum
Comment Breederville — October 2, 2006 @ 9:29 am
Re: 62, Donna
About the watershed being part of Agenda 21.
Not just the watershed, then entire farmbill came from the UN Agenda 21.
See this link:
link
That main domain is the UN. The second sub file in the domain is Agenda 21. The page it it pointing to is the USA, which lists the agenda of the Farm Bill, Watersheds and more.
Here is the EPA’s site which links directly to the Agenda 21 partnership:
link
QUOTE:
Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, is a comprehensive programme of action to be achieved by governments, development agencies, United Nations organizations and independent sector groups in every area where human activity affects the environment. Agenda 21 was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the Earth Summit. Agenda 21 is the response to the UN General Assembly’s call, in December 1989, for a global meeting to devise strategies to halt and reverse the effects of environment degradation “in the context of increased national and international efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally sound development in all countries”
Comment Breederville — October 2, 2006 @ 9:49 am
All you who are aware of and fighting the govt/corp abuses will forgive me for ranting, but there are many out there who do not seem to understand the obvious.
First, there is and never will be any justification for what happened to Danny and Cindi (or to the folks in VT or Ruby Ridge or Waco Period!!) If you feel that a “technicallity” in any of these cases justifies what the govt did than you do not have a respect/understanding of personal liberty or the Constitution! Shame on you!
There were and are proper protacols and methods for “law enforcement” in these United States, this latest raid by the govt did not follow those rules once again showing the world that “they’ are above any law and we are but subjects of the king, true this nonsense has been going on under many administrations and is not all the fault of the present one, but the one in office today is responsible by default as it has done nothing to undo the wrongs but rather seems to be adding to them, I have always said this is not a democrat or republican issue, both parties must bear the blame and we as the people must bear it ultimately because we let them get away with it (please do not forget it at election time, we have to try, and dont’ forget the third parties.In regards as to why the “press” has not picked up these stories; It has! now understand me, when I say that I mean the alternate “press/media” ie the internet and some counter culture papers and magizines these are the only free press we really have,the rest of the “media” is not what we would call “free press” if you are waiting for CNN, Fox, CBS,ABC,NBC and so on to pick this story up and beat the drum against the oppessors,I fear you may be in for a long disapointment. (That does not mean we should let them off the hook,contact them, ask them to cover this case) it is just the reality in America today that much of the mainstream media is owned and controlled by a few major players who tell us what is “news” and who don’t say too much to upset the status quo, and how many of us have tried to get the conservative/liberal
radio folks to help us and have never even gotten a response?? Even thus far the so called American Civil Liberties Union who can raise a stink every time a Bible is mentioned, some how remain totally aloof about NAIS and its “rights” destroying provisions, what will it take before this is a human rights issue to these people? When people die? When families and farms are totally whiped out? What is it going to take to get folks to realize what is going on? America has been vastly altered in the last 50 years, many of us who remember the 60s and 70s wonder what happened to that spirit of rebellion that rose up and changed a generation, well, they ticked off the powers that be and they have slow but sure regulated that spirit into a straight jacket ,lest it threaten them again.W e live in tough times, nothing really new, but tough never the less, I admit I was taking a cautious approach to this latest situation as I want to be sure about something when I open my mouth, and certainly before I call my reps and others and before I print or say something to the radio station, I have read all that Walter provided(and I thank you Walter) and all I could find elsewhere. I listened to Danny this morning and I am now convinced that I can speak with conviction about this travisty of justice and speak I will!
I too once had great faith in this system, I too once believed our govt was basicly good, I no longer have that hangup,but I never stopped having faith in and believing in this country, Americans are basicly good and kind and generous to a fault at times but also complacent to a fault sometimes. We have here in this union of states the greatest and grandest way of life ever concieved, it is still there under the scars of our political system, (our liberty and our freedom) but it has been buried and dispised by the enemies of liberty who have tried desperately to get our focus off of it and onto the programs of the state asking(demanding) us to depend on them for our life/support and thereby surrendering our individual rights to the greater good as defined by govt. which means their right to rule.
We are on the right track, keep speaking out, keep fighting, but never buy into the lie that if you love your country ,you will support its leaders and laws without question, remember to question authority, question everything and never ever give up! Thanks!
Comment LEE — October 2, 2006 @ 11:15 am
This whole thing gets scarier all the time. How did the UN get into farms??? Their function would more logically be to *protect* individuals farms … however, we really MUST stop looking for logic in these things.
Walter asked me to post this link, which I can’t figure out how to do elegantly, but:
link
As you see, this didn’t happen recently, but as ludicrous as it is, it DID happen, and will surely happen again if we aren’t vigilant.
More amazing is that it never made mainstream news .. now wouldn’t you have thought that sows gaining constitutional rights would be a newsworthy story?
But the fewer people who know about it, the easier it will be to repeat the success in another state.
Keep your eye on HSUS’ legislation page - they don’t show local ordinances, but they do tell you their position on federal and state legislation.
Oh .. and don’t forget to read the text of the proposed legislation itself. HSUS tells barefaced lies.
Comment Lynn — October 2, 2006 @ 12:02 pm
But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanders, withouyt self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. 2Tim 3:1-4. Yes, I quoted the Bible. Every one of these things show what the powers that be are. Even disobedient to parents as I bet every mom of every one of them told them when they were kids to be a good person.
I have taken all my information on my livestock and it’s on a CD and in a safe place as need be. I’ve also called and talked to my friend at the Humane Society. She’s looking into something for me and I’ll let you know Walter if it will help.
Better be careful what we put on our web-sites for our farms also. Heard that the USDA is wanting to own all the auction yards now. Don’t know if that’s true but not surprised either.
Comment Suzy Minck — October 2, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
Jeffery,
Living in Virginia, I contacted the state vet office shortly after I received emails and posts about this. The PR person did not deny the incident. (9/24/2006)
I cried when I read the account knowing it could happen to our animals. The Virginia State PR person explained to me that proper procedure was carried out in this case. If animals are found by any means to have an eradicable disease, they come unannounced and start the eradication. Scares me silly.
What I find as disturbing as the USDA’s masacre, are the heartless and knee-jerk reaction comments by those listed in your article in response to this.
I find it disconcerting that people will regard one’s livelihood and animals and the way it was wiped away from them as “just hogs”, as “they were to be shot any way”, “they weren’t pets”, etc., etc.
These people obviously do not understand the implications of what the USDA did, nor do they understand the relationship that people have with their livestock even if they are to go to slaughter or used in a game preserve. Their comments were cruel and they showed no respect for the Henshaws. I am not sure who disgusts me more. I feel by their comments, they pulled the triggers as much as the federal and state agents did.
Barb
Comment Barbara — October 2, 2006 @ 3:21 pm
The HSUS thing is very interesting. It is clear that FL–not a very large hog raising state–was chosen as a means of getting this legislation passed and made acceptable, gradually, to the populace as a whole. I mean, who doesn’t want to think of all pigs as Wilbur?
The HSUS livestock transportation legislation, likewise, is very curious. They, quite rightly, defend the 28 hour rule requiring 5 hours of rest for every 28 hours livestock is transported via truck. That the USDA tried to pervert the law as to the meaning of a “truck” should have sent alarm bells off way back when.
On the surface this stuff looks great. But I wouldn’t trust the deeper motives. HSUS sounds a bit “foreign” if you know what I mean. It’s all a bit UN & Agenda 21.
Pig’s are truly special creatures. They are personable and intelligent–most animals are actually. Walter can chime in here. The way hogs are raised in 90% of operations is appauling. Confinement, furrowing cages, concrete pens and acres of sludge and manure is no way to raise healthy, stress-free animals destined to become healthy, nutritious food. The factory-farm situation has turned animals into a commodity to be treated with as little attention as possible to maintain the most profit.
Pigs, and other meat animals, are no longer animals. They are so many pork chops or tenderloins or boneless, skinless chicken breasts. In this view it is easy to treat the raw-material, as it were, without care or respect as long as profit is maintained and the final product–or at least 40% of it–will sell. Meanwhile the abuse inherent in this system gets the attention. The “farmers” who take part in this system, although I blanch to call them farmers–they have given over that right and can only be called producers–give agriculture a bad name.
Now developes a case where all farmers are seen through jaded eyes. The activists paint all people who raise animals in the same light. It doesn’t matter that those of us who care where and how our food is raised take pride in giving our livestock the very best life before it goes towards its ultimate purpose–we’re all seen as cruel. The very definition of cruelty is open for interpretation. Certainly a furrowing cage where the sow is bound and cannot move is cruel. Is a concrete pen where 100 pigs are crammed cruel? Then how about a mud pen of 1/4 acre where 5 pigs grunt and squeel as their owner scratches them under the chin whilst feeding them garden scraps and slop? Or how about tens of pigs allowed to pasture and dig for a percentage of their food, allowed range and forage and play. Called in only when they are fed or to be slaughtered? Each one of these operations, I fear, is viewed in the same light by many animal activists. “Meat is murder” and activism is big business and growing. Of course no one has yet explained what we’re to do with all the farm animals we will set free. Are they to roam the streets like holy cows do in India? Or do we kill them out of love?
Humane treatment of livestock on farms is a must. Cruelty free raised meats should be on every carnivores table. But this should not come at the sacrifice of human’s rights over animals. It should not come at the hands of yet another set of terrorists. It should come by “market forces” demanding better treatment of livestock by seeking out those producers who *do* treat their animals the way we invision we want Wilbur or Bossy to have been treated if we stop to think about where our pork chop or glass of milk has come from.
And this can only come from fighting NAIS, fighting Agenda 21 and the UN’s seeming desire to do away with small American Farmer’s rights and buy supporting local, small farmers as they struggle to make a living raising the best quality foods they can. Most of which is better quality than anything any corporation can produce with all the subsidies and vast empires behind them.
Comment Podchef — October 2, 2006 @ 3:31 pm
To Podchef -
Yes, the way factory meat animals is raised is appalling.
But HSUS isn’t ‘foreign’ - it’s very simply a radical special interest organization, regardless of its size and newly acquired legitimacy.
Its stated goal is to put an end to human use of animals, period. All domestic animals - for meat, eggs, milk, cheese, leather, wool, companionship, service, transportation, or any other human purpose.
Shortly before Wayne Paycelle became CEO of HSUS, he said at some sort of conference:
“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of
livestock produced through selective breeding. …One generation
and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic
animals. They are creations of human selective breeding” — Wayne
Pacelle - Former National Director of Fund for Animals
He has made good progress so far. He has a marketing degree from Harvard, but no ethics that anyone has been able to identify. He induces pet owners to support his cause by misleading them as to his goals; he has no interest in the animals themselves except to eliminate them.
Someone further up the thread has appealed to a Humane Society on this issue of Danny’s pigs; my guess is her quest will be fruitless. Either the humane society she has approached is a local one, in which case its focus *is* the welfare of animals, and it is poor and powerless, even more so than we are ourselves. Or, it is an arm of the AR zealots, in which case it is throwing a party at the demise of Danny’s pigs. One of their other prime targets is hunting of any kind whatever. The ARists will be totally delighted at Danny’s and Cindi’s misfortune.
There are some rules of thumb as to what the agenda of a particular animal welfare group is.
If they advertise nationally, run flashy websites, distribute ‘educational materials’ and solicit money, they are AR groups, and are in no way helpful to animals or animal owners. They look and sound pretty good (they spend a lot of money on PR), but they do nothing for animal welfare. They neither run nor fund animal shelters, nor do they contribute in any other practical way to the good of animals. They ruthlessly exploit any incidents of animal abuse that come to their attention. HSUS could afford to run shelters in every state in the union, but it spends its budget on politicians and marketing and anti animal ownership legislation.
If it is a local organization with a shelter, chronic funding shortages and no media exposure, it may actually be an animal welfare organization. If such a group has a website, it is probably devoted to rehoming dislocated pets.
In a nutshell, if you want to contribute to animal welfare, call your local shelter(s) and offer your time or other resources. If you are contributing to national ‘animal welfare’ groups, you are most probably supporting the AR cause.
They claim they will eliminate puppy mills, egg farms, sow gestational crates and other miserable practises most of us abhor. If you read the text of the laws they write claiming to do these things, you will discover they all target not corporate abusers, but individual animal owners, most of whom are responsible parties. Before you come out in favor of some law which claims to accomplish these things, or simply claims in some way to prevent animal abuse, read the entire text carefully. And remember that we have had laws against homicide for long centuries, but we still have murderers among us.
We have adequate laws to address animal abuse and neglect. If these aren’t being enforced in your area, address that issue. If your existing laws aren’t working, what reason do you have to believe that *new* underfunded laws will make a difference?
All individual animal ownership looks to be seriously at risk these days. The government is targeting individuals in an effort to support agribiz - not a new trend, really, just an old one finally coming to fruition - and the AR organizations, now presenting themselves as ‘humane’ societies addressing animal welfare, are making good progress in eliminating animal ownership altogether. BSL laws. Spay/neuter laws. Mandatory ID laws.
We really do need some civil rights attorneys - if we can find any who haven’t been coopted by the AR zealots.
Comment Lynn — October 2, 2006 @ 5:21 pm
Where is Sid Sargent??
Comment doreen — October 2, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
Well, it has been something to read all the posted comments. We can understand some of the comments that seem unbelieving…or even cruel. We are having a difficult time believing it ourselves. If you don’t have animals (or pets, for that matter), you would be hard pressed to feel the gut-wretching of hearing them shot, or snared. If we had known the fate of our animals my husband, Danny, would have done the “honors”, and shot them correctly. I would have wanted him to kill Cupid and Valentine. It would have been accurate and painless. They would not have known what was happening. They were pets that followed us around on the 4-wheeler (becuase they outgrew riding on it), were favorite local celeberaties with kids and 4-H Clubs. I would have loved to have buried them on our property. They were part of our story. Danny brought them in to me on our first Valentine’s Day. But, alas, I have been told to take the emotion out of it.
To date, 3 weeks later, all the officials have still not killed all of our pigs. A representative showed up here tonight at 8:00pm to give us an update. He had gone out to the preserve and found lots of tiny prints; fresh tiny prints. (Please note that they should not exist according to the symptoms of pseudorabies). His agents will be back in the morning to try once agian.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone that has taken up our cause. You know that it is your cause, also. This goes beyond “pigs on the Henshaw’s ranch”… this is what can and will happen. We need to use thier own tactics. They slip things by us when we are busy living our lives and just getting by. A little intrusion here, a little taken there. Little things…a little at a time. So we can apply this method to ourselves. A little person here doing something, a little person there writing something, until we are ALL doing SOMETHING. We need to earn our freedom back. A little person at a time. Just do it.
Our hearts are with all that are fighting this battle. You know who you are.
Thank you. Cindi Henshaw
Comment Cindi — October 2, 2006 @ 9:48 pm
Good Article to Read:
Animal Rightists: Coming to a Town Near You - Are Your Council Members Being Used as Pawns?
link
Comment Gisela — October 2, 2006 @ 11:18 pm
#73. That was my question too. After discussing with a retired sheriff, I discovered that the sheriff is the priniciple peace keeping officer and has authority to call deputies, posse etc to protect citizens rights. He is supposed to advocate for citizens rights.
His authority can only be restricted by the County Attorney.
Comment LuAnn — October 3, 2006 @ 7:27 am
OOPS! One more thing. Those familiar with the site News with Views, this sheriff is going to be writing an article about government overextending its Constitutional powers and sounds like he will be using the Henshaw and other information to warn people about this intrusion. Have to watch and see.
Comment LuAnn — October 3, 2006 @ 7:30 am
G-d Bless you Cindy & Danny. Our thoughts and prayers are with you ! We are here to lend a helping hand or a shoulder. We are a diverse group but one thing we have in common is the love of our animals and being good shepherds. One thing I have learned from tragic situations is that pure evil is often transformed into a beautiful good. May you both see the day your tragedy is turned into a fragrant petalled rose.
Comment Celeste — October 3, 2006 @ 7:37 am
Cindi sadly in our country, most folks live by the rule “ignorance is bliss” If they don’t know it can’t hurt or scare them. I have told people about this incident and I get no response. Just a “oh” and on to the subject of whatever is going on in their lives. As Americans sleep in their apathy it will not be until the dawn starts to break and they hear the pounding on THEIR doors to kill their animals or for them to “show their papers” that Americans will realize they have lost ALL their rights. Of course by then it will be too late.
Comment Goatster — October 3, 2006 @ 8:13 am
There is a wonderful essay by Lynn Miller in the Spring 2006 issue of Small Farmer’s Journal entitled Saving Small Farms: Saving New Orleans. He contends that we, as farmers, have remained silent to propaganda which has over the years labled us as rubes, hayseeds, pollyannas, backward, goobers, etc. The rest of America can’t see a problem with an assault on low lives from the ‘boonies’, as it didn’t - for the most part - on the low lives from New Orleans. It’s the old ‘divide & conquer’ theme.
His question & answers: “How do we change it? By saying it isn’t so and saying it again and again and again. It isn’t so….And we best defend ourselves by shifting from defense to offense. We have amazing tools at our disposal…from pamphlets to the internet, from display advertising to billboards; why waste the opportunity for graffitti on expressions of personal angst when it would serve us so well for cultural angst?…Billboards whould say “No Animal ID!” and “We Elected Them and They Stole from Us!”, “Return Liability to Enterprise”; “Keep Your Stinking Hands Off My Farm”.”
Well, it’s a start.
The struggle for freedom from Communist oppression in Poland was fought with handbills and posters printed on small printing presses. The graphics were stunning and made the point in that fraction of time before they were torn from the walls and lamp posts in every public thoroughfare by communist sycophants. We still have our ‘freedom of speech’, I believe.
The latest issue of Farm and Ranch Guide here in the upper great plains has an article entitiled: “Rural Development an Important Part of USDA”.
Nice, huh? It gets better.
Allan Johnson, Deputy Under Secretary in the USDA “feels that the rural development work his agency has been doing is playing a major role in positive change.”
I quote:
“There is $1.7 trillion in land values in this country. We need to find the right kind of venue to use this equity.”
Sounds like ‘our herd’, doesn’t it? If we will just get motivated from such insults instead of sputtering, we can make a difference!
Handbills, pamphlets, posters, billboards in public places can and will make a difference. Everyone is not on the internet. Most people spend a lot of time in cars. A stunning billboard can educate. Posters in public places can create an interest in what is going on in America.
There is a reason the ‘controllers’ want to eliminate independent farmers first. We have always been the wellspring of freedom and self-reliance. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were not ‘goobers’. They were not perfect men, but they were great men with their roots in the soil.
Comment donna — October 3, 2006 @ 9:14 am
Cindi,
My heart goes out to you and your husband and the other family. I have shed plenty of tears over your pigs. I have dairy goats and 3 horses that are pets. My “girls” hear everything I unload on them, a bad day, a good day. They are for my own use. I don’t know how I would respond to one of them being abused. They are not spoiled and are trained and have the manners that animals have to have. They are a part of my life, the reason my husband and I have worked so hard and so long for so I can have my “zoo”.
May God comfort you in your pain. And know you did nothing wrong to have this happen. These powers that be will have their day in God’s time. I know that sometimes it isn’t fast enough for us.
My best for you all.
Suzy
Comment Suzy Minck — October 3, 2006 @ 10:28 am
I don’t know if this can help the Henshaws, but I found a reference on NOFA/MASS about the Farmers Legal Action Group @ www.flaginc.org. Sorry if this has already been suggested.
Comment Vicki — October 3, 2006 @ 10:41 am
Here is another tool that could be employed in our efforts to counter the influence of Corporate BigAg on our rights as ‘We the People’:
corporatedonations
USDA is made up of non-elected toadies, but I have to wonder where the money trail leads that finances these ‘exercises’ & programs.
Comment donna — October 3, 2006 @ 11:30 am
Does the USDA really know what they are doing? If they get rid of the small farmer that means that every business that supports the small farms, from our feed stores, Tractor Supply, John Deere and all the other farm equipment companies, hay dealers, the small dairy farmer and the vets, and every ag. community will go under. The US economy will take a big dump. Gee, maybe they do know what they’re doing. This is a good way to get rid of the middle class and only have the poor and the rich. They will be in control of our lives. I know what catagory I’ll be in.
Comment Suzy Minck — October 3, 2006 @ 1:11 pm
Just to say several us from Amherst County went down to the Henshaw’s yesterday evening(October 2,2006) to give our support. We can confirm Cindi’s comments in message 83 about an agent coming to the door. We heard him tell Danny about the small footprints, leaving a bag of corn for him to feed the hogs and that they would be back.
Early this morning a friend and I rode to the Henshaw’s. We were there when a game warden came in and drove to the reserve gate. He turned around went back down the driveway.
I walked out to the gate for the reserve just to see for myself. It had a chain lock on it. If it is a quarantined area why didn’t I see any quarantine sign, do not enter sign, warning tape, etc.?
Very shortly the game warden and a man in a truck with U.S. government plates came up the drive and to the reserve gate. They stayed very briefly and left.
The holding pen for the 2 pet pegs was very clearly not connected to the reserve.
The NAIS and Congress Robert Goodlatte’s support of it provoked a group of us to circulate a petition to get me on the ballot for Virginia’s 6th Congressional district. Those of us involved are doing everything we can to use the campaign forum to educate on the perils of NAIS.
I am a retired magistrate and am having a real hard time getting my head around why Danny was arrested to begin with. Rather than a warrant a summons could have been issued which would have given him a court date and not required his arrest. Also, second class misdemeanors can be permitted (sign for with promise to appear on a certain date) or not permitted which require an arrest and being taken to the magistrate for a bond hearing. What was said to the magistrate to make this type of warrant be issued is very perplexing to me.
My website is link
If you like what you see please help any way you can. Just like the Henshaws my campaign is not getting any media attention.
barbara jean pryor
Comment Barbara Jean Pryor — October 3, 2006 @ 6:30 pm
Thanks for posting these documents. I live in a HUGE ranching community and this is a BIG scare issue for us. Please know that we are standing behind the movement to expose the USDA and NAIS, whatever it is that they are up to. If it needs to be dealt with, God will give us the words, connections, and all of the needed resources to fight this thing!
Comment Michelle — October 3, 2006 @ 6:51 pm
I read somewhere that the humane society was established in Nazi Germany and charged with exterminating German Shepherds. That sounds like a contradiction but no more so that animal-murdering PETA. Ethical treatment of animals? Fat chance.
Back to the issue at hand though, should we not be forming a legal fund to sue the pants off the government?
Comment Patricia Hampton — October 3, 2006 @ 11:16 pm
I haven’t read this entire posting but did anybody get photos of this slaughter grounds? Pictures are worth a thousand words.
Julie
[The Henshaws were under armed guard and according to Mrs. Henshaw they were not allowed to take photographs to document the incident. It seems to me that that is a basic violation of their rights. Secrecy in government is one step down the slippery slope to fascism. -WJ]
Comment Julie — October 4, 2006 @ 8:55 am
Folks, this was a test - only a test. It was done to see what kind of reaction there would be by the people who make up this country. Sort of like the excesses of ruby ridge, waco texas,& the eleazon gonzales extradition, during the Clinton Administration. This is not about partisan party politics as some have deviated to. It is about ultimate control and how to achieve it.
The primary name of the game is divide and conquor, and it seems , in this case, to have worked from the comments left and innumerated by walter in his follow up article. the non hunting group, the farmers only group, the political party crowd. Gee, I don’t eat pork for biblical reasons, so i guess i should not give a rats rip about this gestapo raid right? This is about divide and conquor and this i feel is only the beginning of what is to come if we all do not get off of our partisan personal interest couches and join together for the right reasons to appropriately stop this blatent abuse of allowed power by the government at all levels.
Read your constitution, better yet, read your BIBLE! there are some interesting points about free persons, slaves, taxes, etc which are totally different than what we are told is meant by all of the 501c3 (ie. government licensed) denominations floating around out there. Possibly by mentioning the Bible i have shut off lots of readers? As i said Divide and conquor is the game the government is playing. A rat does not like daylight exposure, so it would be good to take precautionary steps to record these abuses should they suddenly find their way to your doorstep.
Regarding the commenter #14 - why do you think your ery own government has been trying to [either openly or behind the scenes] subvert the 2nd amendmant and eviscerate the 1st for decades? This is about us vs. them, started way back in the early 1830’s and has slowly evolved to the point where we currently find ourselves. If we all choose to be honest with our own selves, we will admit that each of the established political parties has perpetrated these types of actions and stop supporting the “establishment”. Romans 13:1-7 does not mean what we are told and Jesus very clearly establishes who us and them was in Matthew 17:24-27. There is a lot more here than these few verses but my point is that this constitutional republic was established with limits on the government for some very good reasons by some highly intelligent and prophetic persons. Over the ensuing decades we the people have failed our founding fathers….and our country. We can bicker among ourselves, be complacent over minor details or we can band together to go after the root problem and get vocal and active.
Comment David A. — October 4, 2006 @ 12:18 pm
I also believe this could have been a trial balloon. We know that very few people will express their thoughts on a message board. I have been interneting for over ten years, and this is the first subject that has stirred me to post comments, even though I have been actively trying to work against government control for almost fourteen years. There are WAY more folks out there that are reading every comment here, and are absolutely against NAIS. We are a MUCH larger group than we can imagine. Big Government is trying to cram much too much down our throats, in the way of executive orders, treaties, legislation, etc. They are showing their “handshake”, if you get my drift, and we are intelligent and resourceful enough to sound the alarm. All the research that is posted on this website proves that we know how to expose them.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — October 4, 2006 @ 3:07 pm
I must agree with David A.!
We have been too easily pitted against each other with ‘Punch & Judy’ and ‘Dog & Pony’ shows. We are conditioned to believe there are only two political points of view - the particular one I embrace is RIGHT and the particular one you embrace is WRONG.
We’ve been bamboozled using obvious ‘moral’ issues that government has no business legislating about while the real criminals rape & pillage the entire earth. We are too busy with our ‘differences’ to notice.
We absolutely do need to stick up for each other. Poland was able to shrug off communist oppression only when everyone united. It was called SOLIDARITY.
Comment donna — October 4, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
Lee Comment #26 These special trained agents could not get these animals with guns after day in and day out shooting. Even after starving them and baiting them. Remember these were not the Game People who treated Danny and Cindi with respect but the brought in kill squad some from Ohio and other special trained kill squad people.
On the other hand heritage hunters with bows like Danny who have respect for the land and animals and harvest them as God intended for food/population control and some do mount the head as well as keep the meat for food so as not to waste the life of the animal do just fine.
Heritage hunting respects the land and animals and as the trained special kill squad agents proved…it is not shooting ducks in a barrel. They sure mucked it up and caused undue suffering for the animals, land and people involved.
I have had nightmares over the horror I saw first hand after it was all over. I have no idea how the Henshaws and Davis Families have survived seeing their land, animals and hard worked raped by their own government.
There is an old man that lived in Germany when just a child. His family would sit in the dark behind their door and hear the Gestapo come down the hall sometimes stopping on the ground level other times going up the stairs. They would pray the Gestapo was coming for someone else and not stop at their door. Over and over it was for someone else, then one day, it was their door kicked in and they were drug out of their home and the last words that child heard his father say was…we should have stopped them when they came for the first neighbor….
Together we can stop this attack on our neighbors and thus ourselves. Tell ten people every day even if you told them before. Print the real life story and flyers and get the word out. VOTE. Call, fax and write media, reps, those running for office. Never stop. If going to hairdresser or cafe or store take material and hand out. NEVER STOP.
Together we can turn things around or throw on hell of a monkey wrench in the works and get our licks in. I personally believe with all my heart we can turn things around. The present situation is not what I want to leave the next generation…I don’t want them to ever say we should have fought harder was my mom’s last words.
Comment Sue Karber — October 5, 2006 @ 3:36 am
Our State Vet in Vermont sent me the link for the APHIS Pseudorabies Eradication State–Federal–Industry Program Standards.
Two points that I can see that VA did not follow.
*Official pseudorabies herd-cleanup plan: A written plan to eliminate pseudorabies virus from a swine herd. This plan is (1) developed by an official pseudorabies epidemiologist in consultation with the herd owner and his or her veterinary practitioner, when applicable; (2) mutually acceptable to those parties; and (3) approved by the State animal health official. [HA! They failed that one]
*Have undergone a 30-day depopulation with appropriate cleaning and disinfection. [Disinfection? What’s that?]
Sharon
Comment Henwhisperer — October 5, 2006 @ 5:48 am
Refreshing. Earl Taylor Jr is with the National Center for Constitution Studies and teaches young students. They use a textbook from W. Cleon Skousen called “the 5,000 year leap”. For a project, they take current issues and compare them to our Constitution principles. One recent topic was NAIS! Here is what the students found:
Violates Principle 19 : Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to the government, all others being reserved in the people . The powers of the federal congress are outlines in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. The people have not delegated power to congress for this sort of thing. The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution is violated because it is not a delegated power.
Violates Principle 21 : Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom. If there are any controls on animals necessary for health purposes, local and state governments are the proper level to do it, not the federal.
Violates Principle 15 : Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right of property is secure . Property is an extension of one’s life and labors. When government begins taking property, it reduces the value of human life. The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures of one’s property is also violated by this proposal.
Could the federal government ever do such a thing if the people wanted it to?
Yes, if the people really wanted the federal government to implement such regulations on animals, then they would have to amend the Constitution giving congress the power to do such a thing. This power would be added to the list of powers in Article I, Section 8.
Comment LuAnn — October 5, 2006 @ 7:50 am
Seems to me that years ago the US government told the Native Americans that they could have land, and whatever else they lied about. The US slaughtered so may buffalo, to get rid of the Indians) that they were very close to extinction. Every time I see a buffalo, there are some down the street from me, I think of what the “government” did to them. NOW, if they did it to the Indians they will do it to us. NO, they are not the same men, but they are worse, more educated, more greedy, power mungers. They will do whatever they want and don’t care one bit about what we think or say. They don’t care about the Constitution, they play by their own rules, none. The Constitution is for “The People”, “they” are not “The People”. What happened in VT and VA isn’t the worst of it. The worst hasen’t started yet.
Comment Suzy Minck — October 5, 2006 @ 8:40 am
LuAnn (comment #102), Do you by chance have a link to this project’s results? I would love to read it in it’s entirety. Thanks.
Comment Lois Jordan — October 5, 2006 @ 10:51 am
re:#96 comment on not being allowed to take photos, even if the henshaws could not, why not get the neighbors who were not told not to to take fotos….even now there should be some visual documentation
and…. What if one of them had a heart attack, stroke or other emergency physical ailment due to the extreme nature of the incident and killing? Would they have been allowed to call an ambulance?
Comment S BARACKMAN — October 5, 2006 @ 11:44 am
YES….A TEST!
Now…Go to your local USDA office…I did today…they knew I was coming…didn’t know about the Henshaw incident.They know now…and now they know thousands across the land now know too! Did NOT give him/them my name except “annonymous”. Don’t give yours either…they seem to accept that…at least here.
Write a form letter to send to everyone on the map! I did…am in process of a letter-sending campaign. Keep it short and concise and make reference to NoNAIS.org.so people can research it all for themselves. Ofcourse they will also find out all about NAIS!
We can kill 2 fat birds with one stone..Lindeeloo
Comment lindeelou — October 5, 2006 @ 1:48 pm
Here is how to take action and support the PROTEST:
Here are T-Shirts for NONAIS to spiff up your message to anyone and everyone link. I am getting 5 so I can wear my sign everywhere and have my literature ready to give to anyone that asks. Probably all I will wear for a long time so may need to get a bunch extra. Oh, I will add pants to my daily fare. Folks lets get the word out and be at VA. I can’t go because I have to speak but will mail a post card to all my representatives, those running for office and every media outlet I can get an address for to arrive the 23rd of Sept. This mail out can and will be massive. Media contacts are on www.nonais.org on sidebar as are other contact info.
It is imperative to let them know I may not be able to get to VA in person but I am there in prayer, spirit and support of the Henshaws, Davis’ and protesting the USDA, VA State Vet and all connected to this horror.
The post card will read:
I can not be at Richmond VA for the Henshaw and Davis Protest in body but I am letting you know I am there in Spirit and Support. We are United. We are standing up and being counted for Property/Animal Owners Rights, Demanding accountability and the firing of all involved in the Henshaw, Davis Incidents.
Restore and Protect Property/Animal/Small Farm Owners Rights….NO NAIS. Full Information on the Henshaw and Davis Incidents at www.NONAIS.org.
All local papers, tv, radio, and reps will get a copy of the postcard. I think we need to put the vulture on the front of the postcard, address and stamp and then message on the back and mail them the 19 th of Oct. to arrive the 23rd. The 23rd, I personally will also fax to same groups and email. Let’s get the word out there is a Post Card Blitz and get every relative, neighbor friend, church member and everyone else to mail those Post Cards. I bought a box of them to print out. My fax will be one page with the same message and logo. My email will not have the logo since it would be blocked by most internet mail boxes.
Comment Sue Karber — October 5, 2006 @ 3:58 pm
linkThere is a picture of the USDA trap in this article of the Henshaws
Scroll down.
Comment Breederville — October 5, 2006 @ 4:31 pm
What I can’t understand is that not only are the mainstream media ignoring this story, but so are others who usually cover this type of story. WorldNetDaily publishes columns about NAIS by Henry Lamb–why won’t they touch this? I’ve emailed them numerous times, as well as World magazine, G. Gordon Liddy (who seems to think NAIS is a silly topic), and Nashville conservative talkshow host Phil Valentine. I can’t find anything on the websites of the Associated Press, Reuters, Newsmax.com, LewRockwell.com, Boortz.com, DrudgeReport.com. None of them will touch it. What is up?
There was this interesting column on LewRockwell.com about wild animals polluting the Potomac River, and the Willis River is mentioned:
link
Comment Ginny in TN — October 5, 2006 @ 4:38 pm
Sue Karber, I agree, my question in #26 was simply to ask if perhaps the goons that raided the Henshaws place may have had some of these anti hunting groups inciting/pushing the initial attack. I have a bit more info about what happened now then when I asked the question, although I do believe that anti hunting groups and animal rights groups would favor what took place, as I stated in #26 the shooting in a barrel is a term I heard used by these people it is not my term, I am a hunter/fisherman/outdoorsman who has had to hunt/fish many times just to eat, so if I in any way sounded like I was taking issue with a hunting enclosure, please understand I wasn’t(see#75)Keep “kicking” folks! thanks!
Comment LEE — October 5, 2006 @ 6:33 pm
A front page story came out today in reference to what has happened. Please do a web search to “The Hook”, a Charlottesville, Virginia newspaper. Just thought some would like to “see” that we are real people.
Comment Cindi — October 5, 2006 @ 6:43 pm
110 Lee,no,I understood you knew it was not a barrell shoot, always enjoy your posts. I was just pointing out how these trained killers with guns operated in a real preserve where the real world lives. Yes, I agree the animal rights have lots of input into this type situation and the link to Cindi’s post 111 is here. It is great coverage and shows these wonderful real people. link
Comment Sue Karber — October 5, 2006 @ 7:29 pm
RE: Post 111.
The story Cindi is mentioning from The Hook is linked at post 108.
Comment Breederville — October 5, 2006 @ 7:45 pm
Keep your eyes peeled for the October 15th NY Times Magazine. Michael Pollan is writing a piece “on a closely realted theme”.
Comment Podchef — October 5, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
Sue Karber ,thanks for the link, what a read ! I sent a copy to several radio stations I work with who asked me to keep them informed. This article will help put a face on this. Cindi and Danny, thank you also !
Comment LEE — October 6, 2006 @ 10:49 am
#107 - Sue, You mentioned something about a protest in Richmond. I haven’t heard anything about it but would like to go if there is one. Is it on Oct 23? Do you have any more information about it? The Henshaws live only about 40 miles from me, so I have been following this story pretty closely. Thanks for everything you’ve done to get the news out.
- Greg Lilley
Comment Greg Lilley — October 6, 2006 @ 1:03 pm
The support for Henshaws and against this happening to anyone else will be in announced soon as to location and date but will be around the 23-25 of Oct. The Post card blitz can be started now so when all we have to do is mail them around the 19 or 20 to hit in mass to show support and solidarity. I am predoing mine so they can be ready to mail. I also am faxing and emailing and taking two days for calling. I have to speak at night but will spend 4 hours each day before the event to call media, reps.
You can bet Walter will have all the details as soon as it is able to be posted so we can get the word out.
It is imperative to let them know I may not be able to get to VA in person but I am there in prayer, spirit and support of the Henshaws, Davis’ and protesting the USDA, VA State Vet and all connected to this horror.
The post card will read:
I can not be in VA for the Henshaw and Davis Protest in body but I am letting you know I am there in Spirit and Support. We are United. We are standing up and being counted for Property/Animal Owners Rights, Demanding accountability and the firing of all involved in the Henshaw, Davis Incidents.
Restore and Protect Property/Animal/Small Farm Owners Rights….NO NAIS. Full Information on the Henshaw and Davis Incidents at www.NONAIS.org.
All local papers, tv, radio, and reps will get a copy of the postcard. I think we need to put the vulture on the front of the postcard, address and stamp and then message on the back and mail them the 19 th of Oct. to arrive the day or right about the time of the rally. Let’s get the word out there is a Post Card Blitz and get every relative, neighbor friend, church member and everyone else to mail those Post Cards. I bought a box of them to print out. My fax will be one page with the same message and logo. My email will not have the logo since it would be blocked by most internet mail boxes.
Comment Sue Karber — October 6, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
Hello Walter,
Just had to inform you that this afternoon had a sort of prearranged mtg. with my county’s USDA head exec…in his office for about 15 mintues. I left him a copy of the Henshaw Incident, which he skimmed while I sat before him. He was shocked, I think, tho he kept well composed. He presented himself rather in a humble and attentive mode to me…that was good. No time for detailed report to you right now…just wanted you to know that he, in his USDA office, now knows that the entire American continent knows what happened at the Henshaw property. I also suggested to him that he “will probably have a lot to discuss over dinner tonight”.
Thanks for being there with your invaluable web site, Walter. Hello, too, to your family.
Comment lindeelou — October 7, 2006 @ 2:31 pm
Storm Alert; The Henshaw crisis, story’s have been placed on the following “International” News Professional Feed.
See Link as follows to get there story’s “Internationally now.”
link
I Say: Always contact the foreign media first!
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
IOWANS AGAINST NAIS!
[I’m unable to use the link above as it keeps asking for a subscription in a continuous loop. Perhaps other people will have better luck. -WJ]
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 7, 2006 @ 3:59 pm
Here is the link to the story gone Internationally, on Professional News Feed.
link
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
IOWANS AGAINST NAIS
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 7, 2006 @ 6:13 pm
The link on #120 is for a WorldNetDaily news article by Henry Lamb, who usually covers NAIS for WND. I had emailed him directly, too, asking him to cover it. I’m glad to see he did. A LOT of people read WorldNetDaily, so hopefully the word will get out.
Comment Ginny in TN — October 7, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
First, in response to comment 38: In neither case of E. coli has E. coli been found in the raw milk nor has it been definitively linked to the dairy in question. Subsequent testing has cleared Organic Pastures definatively (NEVER has a pathogen been found in their milk, though several times the government has tried to pin outbreaks on them). I have not heard results on Grace Harbor farms testing yet; that should come to me soon, if the state is willing to release the test results. In both cases milk was recalled BEFORE it was tested for pathogens, as a preventive measure just in case that was the source of the pathogens. Did they do that with the spinach?
I was heartsick reading what happened to the Henshaws; reading these comments has been pretty inspiring. While trying to organize independent-minded folks (like farmers) can seem like herding cats, I’m hearing a lot of solidarity here. And some good ideas on how we can take action. I’ve been trying to brainstorm about other actions we could take, as everyone cannot do everything but everyone can do something, and the more variety of ideas we have the more diverse our actions, and I think, the more effective our net actions will be. Some of these were listed before, and of course I can’t think of everything so others please add your ideas to this list.
Document abuses with photos and video. Hidden cameras on-farm and cell phone cameras can be helpful here.
Talk to people–not just media and politicians though those are important too. If an Animal Rights activist gives you a flier about animal cruelty in CAFO’s, what an opportunity to share how your food is raised differently! Talk about nutrition to health-food people, and how all foods raised on sustainable small farms are more nutritious than factory-”farmed” foods. In the end, the more people who are educated about the many advantages of small sustainable farming practices, the more likely we are to elect understanding representatives.
Run for office yourself. You know the real issues better than anyone!
If you are thinking about getting a little farm and are feeling frightened now, consider going ahead with your plans as a conscious act of resistance. The more of us there are, the more difficult it will be for the government-industrial complex to oppress us all.
Learn about non-violent resistance. This is especially effective in conjuncion with documentation. What are ways in which we can physically not cooperate with abuses while remaining compassionate and not resorting to violence? I don’t know much on this topic, but I intend to learn more soon!
Boycott the food industry. Even if you have no land at all and are renting a little city apartment, you can do this with some work. Start small, start where you are, start asking questions about where your food comes from. Get to know your local farmers. Buy from them. Grow what you can yourself. Make yogurt in your kitchen. Learn which common weeds are edible and start harvesting them from safe (not sprayed) places. You’ll feel healthier and more powerful in your own life. Share your ideas with your friends; get them inspired to see what they can do to produce their own food or get it closer to the source.
I believe RESISTANCE is key here. If we can be frightened into complying, they have already won. If they must use force each and every time to force their will on each and every one, they will soon find that force is very expensive. This is especially true if we are in solidarity with our neighbors, offering physical or monetary or intangible support as needed and as we are able.
Also remember that THEY are US. If we can have compassion with individuals (as the Amish folks in Pennsylvania have demonstrated recently) we can truly change the world. Compassion breeds compassion; violence breeds violence. Don’t get me wrong; I’d personally like to knock a few heads right now–I just don’t think that’s the most effective way to change things. If those agents were more aware, more well-informed, might they not rather walk off the job than enforce an abuse like this? If we didn’t shrug off responsibility for our actions saying, “just doin’ my job”, but refused to do things that compromise our morals, would it not be much more difficult for the “powerful” to actually have any power to repress and exploit?
A last word: whatever you decide to do or not to do, please be sure you are well-nourished in body and soul. Burned-out people aren’t able to effect much change, whatever effort they try to put forth. Keep centered in your spirituality (whatever it is for you), in your environment, in your daily cooking to nourish yourself and your family, in your vision for the future (whatever that is for you). Let your actions proceed out of this center in whatever way seems most natural to you. That way whatever you choose to do will be the most effective thing you could possibly do. Not everyone will be doing the same thing, nor should they be–in our diversity is our strength.
Comment charlene — October 8, 2006 @ 1:18 pm
I think it is a sad commentary on our country that so many people chose not believe this story. Thanks for getting the truth out.
Next time it could be me or you.
Comment Janet Crain — October 8, 2006 @ 5:06 pm
People, We need to make a statement and it has to be a big one. Lets think of this as our Business. We need an plan.
We also need a mission statement. A good mission statement should accuratly explain why your Org exists and what it hopes to achieve in the future. It articulates the orgs essential nature, its values and its work.
Here are my thoughts;
We need to let every source we have at our disposal to warn of any future Depopulation expecially since NAIS is around the corner and it clearly states in the DRAFT Plan on Page 22-Measuring Success.
1.Have a neighbor hood watch program. Warn your neighbors, Keep your eyes and ears open. It if happens and you are aware, call all your neighbors and get to the person(s) in need. Bring your camera and or video equipmment and cell phone and calling list.
2: Each one of your neighbors will need a phone list of all the neighbors. Define the radius.
3: Phone list of newspapers, TV etc. Given to all neighbors.
4. Does anyone on Walters site have access to ALL the NONAIS Groups, meaning are you signed up to all the groups? To post a pending warning to get the word out.
5: Someone with excellant writing skills to write the warning should the “Squad” appear.
6: We need to write to every BIG Grocery Headquarters and let them know we are boycotting all Beef,chicken,pork (meat) etc.
We can set up a date to do a mass mailing, So get your letters started.
7: Write to your feed stores that you will not purchase anything unless it is absolutly necessary.
8: We also need to do the Media in mass mailing. we have enough information we can cut and paste our letters. We can do one major station at a time. Need a set date.
We must UNITE as a whole group like the big boys. Anyone else.
Comment Gisela — October 9, 2006 @ 1:47 am
Read an interesting little story about the USDA going after the caretakers of the Hemingway house in Florida [Antiques Journal, Oct2006, pg 17]. there are descendants of his 6 toed cat about the place and the USDA is threatening the historic site with fines if the site does not CAGE the cats…..to comply with the Animal Welfare act……..seems a contradiction of terms, but my point here is that there is a series of events going on for a few years and it appears that the USDA is developing into a police agency or creating a police/paramilitary department within not much less than treasury has done with BATG some years ago with not so great results for the citizen…… “we should have stopped them when they went after the first neighbor”!
Comment David A. — October 9, 2006 @ 9:37 am
>>>but my point here is that there is a series of events going on for a few years and it appears that the USDA is developing into a police agency or creating a police/paramilitary department within…
State of NJ State Commission of Investigation of the SPCA
SMALL excerpt:
The SPCAs are accountable to no governmental authority. Because there are no standards, rules or guidelines governing their composition, operation, training or activities, there is no consistancy or uniformity in their make-up, functioning or enforcement of the laws. These autonomous organizations present a true hodgepodge of extreme diversity and a danger to the state’s structured system of law enforcement. Once individuals in a county receive a charter from the state SPCA, they control the selection, discipline and removal of their members, officers and agents; the election of terms of office of members of the board of directors; the content of any by-laws; the formulation of any rules or regulations; what training, if any will be provided; how they will enforce the animal cruelty laws, and how they will spend the income. As a result, the SPCAs run the gamut in effectiveness of operation, scrupulousness in financial matters and enforcement of the cruelty laws.
/excerpt
link
Animal Law Career Guide
National Center for Animal Law
10015 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR 97219
(503) 768-6849
ncal@lclark.edu
SMALL excerpt:
Center for Animal Law supports
students interested in animal law by developing animal law
curriculum, hosting trainings and events, providing financial support, and developing resources and programs.
/excerpt
Careers trained for:
Civil Attorney
Judge
Professor
Author
Policy Analyst
Lobbyist
Legislator
In House
Counsel
Consultant
Board Member
Humane
Investigator
USDA Inspector
District Attorney
Animal Law Opportunities: Internships, Volunteer, and Employment Positions
/excerpt
ASPCA seems to have written most, if not all of the APHIS (USDA) regulations for USDA.
link
direct sample: USDA : APHIS : VS International Animal Export Regulations
Excert:
The following requirements are those listed in the ASPCA booklet…..
I’m not really pointing out travel rules; I’m making a direct reference to show the ASPCA being quoted in the USDA/APHIS. That is absolutely not the only reference.
Comment Breederville — October 9, 2006 @ 2:23 pm
DANNY & CINDI HENSHAW’s Story has now made it into the CANADA Free press.
See Link…
Pig massacre at Willis River
Canada Free Press - Canada
link
I Say: Foreign News is Good News for the NoNais.
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
IOWANS AGAINST NAIS
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 9, 2006 @ 5:30 pm
The Henshaw story made it on the News With Views website also today.
Comment LuAnn — October 10, 2006 @ 1:54 pm
LuAnn, where is the Henshaw story on the News With Views site? I can’t find it.
Comment Ginny in TN — October 11, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
That article is titled, “Bureaucratic Tyranny”.
Comment Goose — October 11, 2006 @ 5:43 pm
STORM ALERT; New Danny and Cindi Henshaw story in “THE HOOK” of Virginia, newspaper.
See Link as follows:
link
God’s Speed to the “Truth” and “Protest” of the Negligent Authorities in this most serious matter.
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
IOWANS AGAIST NAIS
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 12, 2006 @ 5:06 pm
STORM ALERT; USDA-Office of Inspector General “refuses” and “fails” to Investigate the MASSACRE of Gladstone, Virginia..as well as the ASSASSINATION of the Henshaw’s two PET animals, completely separated and distinct from the massacred hog herd.
The arrogance of USDA “Evil” has been unleashed.
If We DO NOT UNITE behind the Henshaw’s, and DEMAND JUSTICE; You “will” become the USDA’s next “targeted” Victim.
Who then, is going to SAVE YOU? If you fail to “stand” for the Henshaw’s NOW!
Link to today’s Hook article:
http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2006/10/19/NEWS%20pig%20investigation.doc.aspx
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
IOWANS AAGAINST NAIS
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 19, 2006 @ 3:20 pm
Everyone, Please read and forward to others, the below listed Henshaw Massacre article on www.Congress.org as follows:
The title of it is:
Bloody Massacre & USDA-Inspector General Office “arrogance” to cover-up the USDA & Virginia Govt. Agent Criminals.
Link as follows:
link
Comment DeanAFOSI (IOWA) — October 21, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
Everyone, Please see the below link on www.congress.org
soapbox article titled:
National Storm Alert; Paul on Horseback is Riding Once Again to Fight for Our Rights and to Retain Our Bill of Rights!
My goal is to provide an alternative forum to discuss sensetive issues, without raising such a fuss! New ideas, bring New People, to the fight! Right?
Dean A. Ayers
Comment DeanAFOSI — October 26, 2006 @ 7:52 pm
Doublethink.
A term coined straight from George Orwell’s novel 1984. “Doublethink”
is the act of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously,
believing in both, and being unaware of their incompatibility. Here
is a definition from his novel:
“The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind
simultaneously, and accepting both of them. …
To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget
any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes
necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it
is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the
while to take account of the reality which one denies—all this is
indispensably necessary.
Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise
doublethink.
For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality;
by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on
indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth.”
So what does this have to do with the National Animal Identification
System (NAIS), Danny and Cindi Henshaw, Gladstone, Virginia, USDA-
Inspector General Office failure to Investigate an Animal Massacre,
and Misconduct, by USDA, Law Enforcement, turning Property Rights and
Animal and Pet Rights, in a “POLICE STATE?”
It has “EVERYTHING” to do with it!
Keep Reading this group, to learn the truth of reality.
Animals C.L.U.B.-Freedom; “Protecting the Right of Free Speech!”
link
Comment DeanAFOSI — October 29, 2006 @ 11:33 am
Monday, at a livestock auction, I saw an article in the Nov. 13th edition of the New American magazine, “Idaho’s Elk Ranch Tragedy”, where the USDA slaughtered Rex Rammell’s elk and dragged them with chains (picture) - all because some of them got out on the road. I searched the New American website and found that you can only obtain a short teaser about the article. I have been considering subscribing to the magazine for quite some time, as they do have excellent articles, so I did that this morning. They are going to start my subscription with that Nov. 13th issue. I also e-mailed them and gave them this website and the website for “The Hook”, so they can research the Henshaw incident. I hope they will consider an article on that tragedy, also.
I have not done a Google search on this event, but will today. The owner of the elk is Rex Rammell and he resides in Idaho.
The e-mail address for the New American is: editorial@thenewamerican.org
Comment Texas Goat Gal — November 15, 2006 @ 11:48 am
Oops, not on the road, but about 100 (+-) got through a fenced damaged by a bear from the neighboring national park.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — November 15, 2006 @ 12:24 pm
Another depopulation story.
Elk Rancher in Idaho.
Listen to the interview on the Derry Brownfield Show.
NOTE: that link will only work until 11/27/06. After 11/27/06, see Derry’s Archives
Comment Breederville — November 21, 2006 @ 11:13 am
I sent out 40 + letters yesterday to “small farmers” in New Hampshire directing them to this website. I hope some start checking in and telling their friends and neighbors. Also, I’m now the proud owner of vanity plates (it was time to register the old F-150) get this, my license plate now says -NONAIS - I’m hoping when I get the “what the heck does that mean?” questions I’ll have my NONAIS folder with me to give ‘em a flyer and point them in the right direction. I think I’m turning into an obsessed radical!
Comment Bob Constantine — November 21, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
Bob,
What did you say in your letter and where did you get an address list?
I have been frustrated with trying to post flyers and leaving brochures at farm related businesses that soon disappear even when I have asked permission to leave them. One place that seemed excited to leave out the LibertyArk brochures told me they had to remove them because they were too “controversial”.
I have been thinking that a direct mailing might be better but haven’t figured out how to get a good mailing list. I do get canned letters frequently from people trying to buy our ranch - perhaps they got our name and address from property records?
Any tips would be appreciated!
Comment Mary Beth — November 22, 2006 @ 3:06 pm
Mary Beth, one way to get a list is to Google an animal breed. The 300+ e-mails I have sent out so far came from a list of boer goat breeders that I got from typing in “boer goat”. I just searched “nubian goat”, “dorper sheep”, and “angus cattle” real quickly, and in each case found breeder lists on the first page of hits. I found it more interesting to start with boer goats, since we raise them. That way I could say I was contacting boer goat breeders since we are, also. After I exhaust my current list of 500 (+-) breeders, I am going to go to another goat breed, still being able to have a connection to goat breeders.
So far I have only received 4 replies, all positive. Three of the replies were from folks that knew about NAIS and were glad to hear from me, and the other was a woman who had never heard of it and wanted to know more.
Hope my suggestion is useful.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — November 22, 2006 @ 4:13 pm
Mary Beth,
I think I “googled” New Hampshire farms” and started hand writing down addressess on envelopes…I also pulled a few addresses from business cards I had picked up, local farriers etc. An informal approach, but I’m hoping with a handwritten envelope they’ll at least get opened…My letter was brief, I also enclosed a hi-lited flyer from this website and told people to e-mail me if they wanted to let me know they’d gotten the info. One other approach I’m considering is picking up every livestock publication or newspaper etc. that advertises animals for sale and sending out some letters to those people. Today while pumping gas I got into a conversation with a young lady who had organic gardening bumper stickers on her truck…she’d “heard” about NAIS and seemed eager to know more about NONAIS, maybe she’ll show up here. I suppose there is no one right way, everything we do counts. Keep pinning up flyers even if some of “them” think you’re “out there”…it is a sad comment on our society when our trying to protect our constitutional rights is considered too controversial by some. Me? I’m motivated by stubborness, I don’t want Uncle Sam telling me what to do, how to do it or when to do it, that job is taken and she’s calling me to supper! Good luck and keep fighting!
Comment Bob Constantine — November 22, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
STORM ALERT; Everyone,
Animals C.L.U.B.-Freedom is “NOW” an “OFFICIAL” (.org) Organization with it’s own Official WEB-SITE as follows:
link
PLEASE EVERYONE, GET THE WORD OUT TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, Against the NAIS, and ANIMAL ACTIVISTS, to PRESERVE OUR ANIMAL AND PET OWNER RIGHTS….
Thank you,
Dean A. Ayers
Web Master
link
Animals C.L.U.B.-Freedom; “Protecting Your Rights of Free Speech!”
Here’re the details on: Animals_Club_Freedom:
The National (.org) Organization Web-Site:
link
National Action Members Page:
link
Group “Blog” Article Page:
link
Comment DeanAFOSI (NATIONAL) — November 30, 2006 @ 2:32 am
Walter and Everyone,
Just a note to say that
Animals C.L.U.B.-Freedom.org
has just “updated” it’s 2nd web page on the web site, to specifically talk NoNAIS information. Please check it out, as we all need to stay in this passive-agressive USDA “voluntary” (My-AxE) Govi-Biz, Propaganda pushing NAIS Premise registration “flight” by Knight - Fight for truth.
Thank you for your support!
http://animalsclubfreedom.org/
Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
DeanOSI@netscape.com
Comment DeanAFOSI (NATIONAL) — December 2, 2006 @ 12:41 pm
Anyone have an update on what is happening with the Henshaws? I thought they went to court a couple of weeks ago. Anyone? Anyone?
Comment Henwhisperer — December 14, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
Thank you so much for still asking about us…
Danny goes to court on January 19, 2007; 11:00am. We are asking everyone that is able to show up. Not to protest, but to show the court that people DO care.
A quick update…
The USDA is STILL here on our property. After 3+ months they have not been able to kill/catch the 100 pigs on our 100 acres. Mind you, this is our governments’ finest. They have sent special trained sharpshooters in, used professional catch pens and had over three months…and are not able to get the job done.
Our patience is run. Danny asked wehn they would be off our property and they couldn’t answer. Mr. Antsey said that the pigs had not been as cooperative as they had originally hoped. (Darn those uncooperative pigs…) So, we are still the unhappy hosts to our government. As we all know by now, they can do whatever they “deem neccessary”.
Again, if anyone out there can, please come to court on January 19. We would truly appreciate your efforts.
[Cindy, thank you for the update and please do keep us posted with progress reports. -WalterJ]
Comment cindi henshaw — December 18, 2006 @ 6:26 pm
First of all,it is probably true that technically speaking a lot of folks have personal “info” scattered all over the place,(and that is something folks shold work at correcting)I hear that argument almost daily in my “rounds” talking to folks about NAIS, but the point of that would be that in the case of a licence to spray chemicals around or to claim some tax exemption or any thing simular, would be that the info given was voluntary not forced and that is where many of us, myself included, have a bone to pick with NAIS, some of us have never signed up for a govt “perk” or a licence to do any thing. I for one do not want any thing from anyone especially govt(except to be left alone)some of us are self sufficent enough to not have to go to the feed store but once a year for some salt or rat poision and I never sign anything and always use cash. Many folks do not use credit or bank cards, checks or paricipate in the general “cash” system, many barter or trade for goods and sevices, personally I applaud anyone who has to tenacity to function outside this system,I hope and pray there will be more and more until the day comes this house of cards falls apart and men and women can re-establish a system that promotes individual liberty and nothing else.The idea that one can get away with a few dollars per year to comply with NAIS is simply uneducated, the scanner to read the chips alone will cost many times more than a few dollars along with all the “bother” to have to comply with a geek some where in a govt basement, when in real life most farm folks wouldn’t even cross the road to look at someone like that, and here we are being forced to participate, sounds to me like I’m back in school and I have some authority figure admonishing me to participate in somthing I have no interest in doing, “for my own good of course” well,for my own good is why I refuse to comply with a ridiculous and offensive govt intervention on behalf of a bunch of huge international conglomerates like Monsanto who are bent on absolutely dominating agriculture world wide. Some folks seem to have the idea that our good and benevolent govt officals came up with NAIS on their own, and out of the “goodness” that just oozes out of them for our eternal peace and happiness,AIN’T SO! May I again remind or enlighten , whichever applies. The National Institute for Animal Agriculture is who came up with this awful idea and the did it long before 9/11 and couln’t sell it till our govt saviors desperately needed a way to sell “security” to Americans rattled by 9/11. This NIAA is out of Bowling Green Ky and they are NOT a friend to small farmers or homesteaders, they are the ones who will make tons of cash off the backs of a group of people who already are carrying way to much of the load. America has almost lost her farmers, true farmers ,not agribiz,(although to be fair not all folks with a huge operation are in favor of NAIS, you folks know who you are, and I thank you for not being for NAIS,I will also say that there are a few misguilded small farmers and such who feel that this NAIS will help,I for the life of me can’t see how that works, except that they do not understand what NAIS involves. As to the idea of being too wound-up or overreacting to NAIS I can only say that in 1776 a group of angry ,tax resisting farmers said “Enough” and went out and “OVER-REACTED” then started a revolution, hopefully we can resolve this without having to “OVER_REACT” we do need to upset the applecart here and institute permanent change in this nation, it can be done in spite of those folks who just don’t seem to have a clue that we live in a republic goverened by the rule of law( Bill of Rights)we don’t even have a democracy where the bigger mob rules,we have fallen under a police state mentality from our govt,and the sad part is many otherwise good and decent folks believe it is the way it is supposed to be,its not! Folks you personally have to take charge over your lives,with all the responsibility falling sgaurely on you, for you life and actions, many of you understand this because thats the type of people you are, but some of you need to wake up and smell the coffee or the manure pile, which ever applies in your case, we have lost so many rights in this nation that we took for granted just a decade ago, no I don’t think folks are overreacting against NAIS,in fact I pray they get rightuosly indignent and speak boldly and with confidence to everyone they meet and spread the word so that we do not lose one more micro-inch to powercreep(s).Please folks if you don’t understand NAIS please study it,I know it takes time and that we are all busy but to be ignorant of the enemy and their plans is dangerous and frankly without excuse, Thanks!and Merry Christmas to all. “I hold it certain that to open the doors of truth and to fortify the habit of testing everything by reason are the most effectual manacles we can rivet onto the hands of our (govt) successors to prevent them from “enslaving” the people with their own consent” Thomas Jefferson 1804
Comment LEE — December 18, 2006 @ 8:20 pm
04 March 07
Good morning all,
As of this moment Danny and Cindi are on their way back to Colorado and very tired because of this trip. They were supposed to land in Richmond 830 PM Thursday night, but due to severe storms, did not land until 330 AM Friday morning and had to be in court at 11 AM.. They are living in a borrowed 31 foot trailer in an RV park. They both have jobs now and are working many hours trying to recover both mentally and physically from this whole chain of events since the 12 September 2006 raid on their property.
They do not have a computer line at the trailer ( no phone) , so being on line at this point is not a priority. Cindi has to go to the library if she wants to read any mail. Not much time to do that . Eventually, she will answer all e-mails sooner or later as time permits.
I speak to them weekly so if anyone has a message for them , please drop me a note and I will pass it on. Becky
They asked me to thank everyone who have shown loyal support to them during this trying time. To those who have offered advice, made phone calls, showed up at the protest rally, attended first trial, and all the people who offered encouragement in any way, we thank them from them bottom of our hearts. Please keep us in your prayers. We are very grateful to family, our friends and to all the people, whom we might never had met, if this had not happened. It has helped restore out faith in humanity. Thank you so much. We also are sending along a Special thanks to members of VICFA.
_____________________________________________________________________
I am sending you all this memo with permission of Danny and Cindi.
_____________________________________________________________________
We went to court with Danny on March 02, 2007 and once again I am totally discussed with the justice system.
There was much talking between Dan, his lawyer and the Commonwealth Atty. Bell alone, prior to going into the courtroom, Danny refused to plead guilty.
End result:
Appeals : Denied ( presented at the first trial)
Pled not guilty——–verdict guilty………. Fined $250.00 ( suspended
with conditions)
Court costs……$66.00
Fined total $1500.00……… to repay for the Agents hog kills ( 3 ), prior
to the raid, #500.00 each.
Nothing like kicking someone when they are down HUH???
Everything was done up at the bench, so we could not hear the exchange of words very well..
Dick and I went outside to wait and Norman, Dan’s Lawyer came out, while we waited for Danny to make arrangements to pay fines and etc.
The person that Dan had to talk to after, really had an ego attitude for sure. We noticed it when we were in the courtroom. Danny came out with his blood pressure about to explode.. This gal, I guess, treated Dan like a common criminal asking all kinds of personal questions and telling him he would have to be drug tested, go for counseling, report to her every two weeks and all kinds of unnecessary things, which in fact did not apply to his case. According to the Judge, all he had to do was arrange payment of fines by 01 June, 2007.
Norman was not aware this was going on at all and was a bit peeved. He figured that Dan would just have to make arrangements to make payments or whatever. Norman was not happy with this sort of treatment.
Finally, the gal called over the Commonwealth Atty. Bell and said Danny was being un-co operative. Bell spoke to the gal and finally settled it, I guess. Danny was not happy with her attitude at all.
While we were talking to Norman, he pointed out the laws that were sited on the original warrant. ( there were several quoted on the original papers) and Norman found, after a great deal of study, there was no law at all that pertained to this case, especially how it was carried out with no notice or warning to correct the problem, if in fact one existed. Basically the bottom line is Danny was convicted on laws that do not even exist. SO MUCH FOR JUSTICE….
My personal thought is this: The Powers to be, can take any written law and mold it to suit their own purpose, especially when they know that the way this whole event was carried out, was WRONG. Even the Deputies outside the Courtroom (Sheriffs) agreed that it was all wrong and should have been handled a lot different, to late for that HUH?
Moral of my story ; Just my personal opinion
TAKE A DECENT HUMAN BEING, WHO HAS NO RECORD OF ANY KIND AND TURN HIM INTO A CRIMINAL…ALL because a bunch of BIG BROTHER’S Agents decided that Danny Henshaw was breaking the law, by owning a Hunting Club, and set out to make an example of him. This event was set up as a training session for those involved, for future raids.
No warning, No human decency, NO nothing, except their AUTHORITY, IN MY MIND, THEY, the USDA AND OTHERS WERE THE CRIMINALS HERE, AND GOT AWAY WITH IT!!!!!!!!
What is really sad, is this is happening all over this country! Not just to Danny and Cindi, but to many people, who have chosen the FARM way of life, the very people who for generations have built this country from the ground up.
Folks, BEWARE, you could be next, and now we know, they do not even have to have good reason. Be prepared, if they decide to come to your home and property.
Please feel free forward to anyone, please use the entire message as written, as I do not have e-mail addresses of all people who have been interested in this.
Thank you,
Warm Regards,
Becky
PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND BE PREPARED. You could be next!!!!
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is SUCCESS.” — Henry Ford
Comment Becky — March 4, 2007 @ 11:59 am
From: cynbad02@hotmail.com
Subject: FW: Fwd: FW: Unnecessary Animal Eradicaton
Date: March 7, 2007 5:14:34 PM EST
From: gary cannon
To: Cynthia Henshaw
Subject: Fwd: FW: Unnecessary Animal Eradicaton
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 13:36:57 -0800 (PST)
Note: forwarded message attached.
———————————
Don’t get soaked. Take a quick peek at the forecast
with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut.
From: “Cannon, Gary”
Date: March 7, 2007 3:12:09 PM EST
Subject: FW: Unnecessary Animal Eradicaton
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Subject: FW: Unnecessary Animal Eradicaton
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 15:12:09 -0500
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From: “Cannon, Gary”
To:
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—–Original Message—–
From: Richard Wilkes [mailto:Richard.Wilkes@vdacs.virginia.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 3:10 PM
To: Cannon, Gary
Subject: Re: Unnecessary Animal Eradicaton
I do not cosider it worthy of a response.
Richard L. Wilkes, D.V.M.
State Veterinarian & Director
Division of Animal & Food Industry Services
102 Governor Street, Office 135
Richmond, VA 23219
804/692-0601
804/371-2380 FAX
richard.wilkes@vdacs.virginia.gov
“Cannon, Gary” 3/7/2007 12:55:01 PM >>>
Ms. Elaine J.Lidholm,
After reading several articles on this subject and speaking with several deeply affected families,one can blatantly see that YOU are part of the Virginia government gone powercrazy problem.There seem to be several instances where families were NOT properly contacted, nor made aware of the needs/wants of your department,prior to your department’s gestapho style surprise raids,and YOU were left saying “Well, they should have known!” YOU,supposedly,are the “Director of Communications”???, and YOU say these folks “should have known!”?? Did YOU confirm at all, whether or not your department had really made contact with these families? YOU, apparently, do not communicate nor listen so well,…which,I guess,makes YOU perfect for a communication/promotions/events political job that we taxpayers get stuck paying for! I am giving YOU and your department a lot of free advertising to anyone that will listen or has an opinion on your actions.Leave the farmers alone.
Two things one can hope for is that…
a) …this will happen to YOU, your family,or your friends someday
b) …you keep your government holyier-than-thou attitude in Virginia.
May God bless and protect us all from surprises of people and government like you.
Gary Cannon-farmer
Mt. Juliet,Tn
Comment jf — March 7, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
See this article.
link
Comment anon — March 7, 2007 @ 5:04 pm
The USDA records on depopulation of our livestock in now up under The Killing Fields page at nonaiswa.org. More to come…. This is just one poultry and swine.
Comment Celeste — April 7, 2007 @ 5:14 am
From Cindy Henshaw:
Dear Walter,
I have come back to Virginia to handle some affairs. I wanted to let you know what has happened since. I began calling the USDA’s office on Tuesday, April 9, and leaving messages for Mr. Anstey. I wanted to know when they would be off our property. It has been over 7 months and thier eqipment and locks were still on the preserve and on our property. I was told they would be out that Friday to survey for any more pigs. They came and it took them the following week to remove everything. I called almost everyday until they finally came on Friday, April 20th. Mr. Anstey rang my doorbell after 5:00pm to tell me they were leaving. I asked him what was next? Were they finished with us? He replied that he thought they would be sending us a letter “releasing the quarantine” on Monday. He also told mt that they had removed the lock from the preserve and that I would need to repalce it with my own. I told him that we never needed a lock before they came.
So, just for posterity…the USDA and their cohorts took over 7 months to end their command of our personal property. We, of course, must continue to pay our personal property taxes on land that we had no rights or access to.
Danny is still not home. He is trying to work very hard to make up for all the money we have lost in property, attorney fees and now, restitution for the hogs the government “paid for” during the sting. Please keep us in all your prayers.
Thank you, Cindi Henshaw
Comment walterj — April 25, 2007 @ 6:29 am
Cindi/Danny, I am so sorry for what you folks had to go through at the hands of our “Wise and benevolent” govt(choking on sarcasim)I wish I could apoligize for what happened and that would make it all better,
but I know it won’t,I hope you folks and any others like you are able to go forward and prosper and perhaps heal from this injustice.You are in my thoughts and prayers!
Thanks for the update,I was wondering how you folks were doing.
I see a glimmer of hope out there,with what is happening in Missouri and Vermont,and trust that the day will come when this type of govicorp facism and those who promote it will not be tolerated in America.
Keep up the fight,thanks!
Comment LEE — April 25, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Cindi and Danny,
For very selfish reasons, I was so glad to see you back in Va., but the sad part is Danny is still out there in Colorado working his butt off.
I really do not think that others realize, the depth of the scars, that this event has caused and the financial problems all this created.
You certainly do not need any more negativity surrounding you now. Hind sight is always 20/20, and for all of us, we question, what we did at the time. USDA uses these methods and the shock of being off guard to carry out their missions, for sure. BUT 7 months later?? Finally off the property, is a bit much.
Stay strong, Cindi, in this most difficult time, and please know Dick, Nanci, Bekkah and I will help in any way we can, to be beside you as you face even more fallout from this horrible misjustice at the hands of the powers to be.
Love to you
Bec
Comment becky — April 27, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Be very very cautionus about letting strangers into your property.
Comment Sal — October 3, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Hi Cindi & Danny,
I have often thought of you
and wondered how you are both doing. I was the phone call that came out of the blue while
you were wondering what to do way back when. I have told your story to many here in CT who had no idea what had happened. Please know we will
continue to keep you in our prayers. Big Hug Shirley
Comment Shirley Vicchitto — October 9, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Glad to see justice finaly served on you… For something, I knew things would finaly come around. You know how you felt when they shot your pig that is how i felt the day of settlement on my house. I knew if i left it in GODS hands he would help me in gratification to justice. you mention you are good people and teach church classes and you treat people as you did me. that is not right. I will still fight for the repairs on my house. See you soon. GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment ME!!!!!!!!!!!! — December 10, 2007 @ 10:35 am
What the?????? How about making some sense there? Walt I am surprised you let that comment through. It is nonsense.
Comment Jameson — December 10, 2007 @ 10:46 am
Dan and Cindi know who i am this is the only way i can contact them and voice my opinion …………
Comment ME!!!!!!!!!!!! — December 10, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Danny Henshaw’s guilty conviction on a non-exist law is very bad news for the small farmer. If I remember my law course correctly, The body of US law is divided into three categories: common law (based on Old English common law in most states), Laws passed by Congress and the real stinker CASE LAW. In other words Danny’s “guilt” sets a precedence that allows other judges to find the rest of us guilty in similar cases because Danny was found guilty. This is possible since in the US judges and juries are allowed to MAKE laws.
What the heck was Danny’s lawyer doing figuring out he was NOT GUILTY after the trial.
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent” — Thomas Jefferson
Comment Snazy snezy — March 14, 2008 @ 4:29 am