§43 Force, Violence, and Threats Involving Animal Enterprises

Summary

Makes it a federal crime to travel, use the mail, or use any interstate service to try to damage or interfere with an animal business. It covers deliberately damaging property (including animals or records) used by the business, damaging property of people tied to the business, putting someone in reasonable fear of death or serious injury by threats, vandalism, trespass, harassment, or intimidation, or trying or planning to do any of those things. Punishments depend on the harm: a fine or up to 1 year in prison if there is no fear of serious injury or death and the economic loss is $0 or at most $10,000; a fine or up to 5 years if loss is more than $10,000 but at most $100,000 or if the act causes reasonable fear of death or serious injury; a fine or up to 10 years if loss is more than $100,000 or the act causes substantial bodily injury; a fine or up to 20 years if the act causes serious bodily injury or loss over $1,000,000; and life or any number of years, a fine, or both if the act causes death. Courts can also order repayment for costs like redoing interrupted experiments, lost farm food or income, and other economic losses from the act. "Animal enterprise" means businesses or organizations that use or sell animals or animal products, or events like zoos, shelters, pet stores, breeders, circuses, rodeos, or agricultural fairs. "Course of conduct" means two or more acts showing a continuing purpose. "Economic damage" means replacement or repair costs, lost profits, and costs to repeat experiments, but not lawful actions like legal boycotts. "Serious bodily injury" means injury that risks death, causes extreme pain, long-lasting disfigurement, or long loss of function. "Substantial bodily injury" means deep cuts, serious burns, broken bones, significant pain, illness, or short-term loss of function. Peaceful protest protected by the First Amendment is not covered, and the law does not replace state or local laws or remedies.