Blast From the Past: “Mink Bill Passes House”
In 1990, a little-known bill passed in Utah making it a Class A misdemeanor to release mink from fur farms. I’m posting an article about the law that ran in the Salt Lake Tribune. 
The bill is interesting in that it predated the first recorded mink liberation in the US, making it puzzling what could have inspired the law. The only theory that makes sense is that Utah fur farmers were concerned about mink releases they had read about in Europe, and wished to head off the trend crossing the ocean – by making mink liberations a misdemeanor.
Most interesting, a Utah Senator voiced opposition, stating she “didn’t believe others should be punished for acting according to the dictates of their conscience”.
Punctuating the futility of such laws, shortly after this passed, the most intense ALF offensive ever carried out against the fur industry began. Dubbed “Operation Bite Back”, the multi-state ALF arson campaign would see two actions in Utah: The attempted arson of the Utah Fur Breeder’s Co-op in Sandy, and an arson and coyote liberation at the Utah State University / Animal Damage Control labs.
The full article reads:
Some folks believe raising animals for their pelts is morally wrong. But if that belief should prompt animal-rights advocates to release animals from Utah fur farms, they could face criminal penalities.
The House voted Thursday to make it a Class A misdemeanor to release any fur-bearing animal from fur farms.Rep. Joanne Milner, D-Salt Lake, protested the bill, saying she “didn’t feel comfortable” with the idea of mink coats and didn’t believe others should be punished for acting according to the dictates of their conscience.
But that prompted Rep. Donald LeBaron, R-Highland, to burst out, “Heavens! Let’s pass the bill. That would be terrible for anyone with a kitty or doggie. Those mink are mean.”
In the end, even Milner voted for the bill.
