West Hollywood approves first fur ban in U.S.

[garbon]

http://news.yahoo.com/west-hollywood-approves-first-fur-ban-u-181344531.html

Putting animal rights over fashion imperatives and its own vibrant shopping scene, West Hollywood's leaders have given final approval to a first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of fur clothing within city limits.

The five-member City Council of the tiny, tony municipality wedged between Beverly Hills and Hollywood voted 3-1 with one abstention early on Tuesday to approve the ordinance, said City Councilman John Heilman, who voted no.

The ban was tentatively adopted by the council on September 20 and had been expected to win easy enactment two weeks later.

But it ran into stiff opposition from the local Chamber of Commerce and the fur industry, whose main trade group, the Fur Information Council of America, happens to be based in West Hollywood.

Opponents say nearly half of the 200 apparel stores in town sell at least some fur items, and that merchandise made with animal pelts is estimated to account for up to $2 million in revenues for those businesses each year.

But the city's famously left-leaning political establishment ultimately embraced the ban, won over by supporters' arguments that furs are produced from animals that are inhumanely killed for their pelts.

However, the date the measure will take effect was pushed back to September 21, 2013, from the original June 30, 2012, in part because city officials want to conduct their own study on how the ordinance will affect businesses, Heilman said.

[Barrister]

Won't somebody please think of the trappers!

[Ideologue]

Good.

[Archy]

won't someone think of the sealinfested Canadians

[Barrister]

Good.

seriously... living in Yukon I knew perhaps a dozen or more full-time trappers.  They trapped animals as part of their lifestyle - they hardly became rich doing it.  Their industry was fully sustainable, and most of them were aboriginal / First Nations, who were attempting to live the same lifestyle as their father / grandfather / ancestors.

I am fully biased, but I can not see how their lives were somehow filled with evil and animal abuse.

[Syt]

If only Seedy were here to witness this.

[Ideologue]

Good.

seriously... living in Yukon I knew perhaps a dozen or more full-time trappers.  They trapped animals as part of their lifestyle - they hardly became rich doing it.  Their industry was fully sustainable, and most of them were aboriginal / First Nations, who were attempting to live the same lifestyle as their father / grandfather / ancestors.

I am fully biased, but I can not see how their lives were somehow filled with evil and animal abuse.

I don't think they're evil.

[Razgovory]

People are still anti-fur?  I thought they gave that up.

[Admiral Yi]

Nothing says painful sacrifice in a noble cause like a southern Californian giving up fur.

[Scipio]

Of all the stupid bullshit restraining free enterprise in the world, this is right up there with criminalizing marjiuana.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Damned commies.

[garbon]

Of all the stupid bullshit restraining free enterprise in the world, this is right up there with criminalizing marjiuana.

Fur hasn't been criminalized, you just can't sell it in town.

[KRonn]

Well, scratch one city for me to buy my fur coats and hats.     

[Valmy]

Damn so you will have to drive to LA to buy your fur coat for the harsh SoCal winter.

[garbon]

Damn so you will have to drive to LA to buy your fur coat for the harsh SoCal winter.

Does look like they will have a far drive...