SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) introduced the California State Fur Ban, Assembly Bill 44, to prohibit the sale and manufacture of new fur products throughout the state of California. The bill is sponsored by the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation, Animal Hope in Legislation, and the Humane Society of the United States.
“California is one of the most progressive states in the country and a world leader in animal welfare,” said Assemblymember Friedman. “Given the overwhelming evidence of inhumane practices in the fur industry and the availability of so many different options for warm and fashionable fabrics, we will not continue to be complicit in unnecessary cruelty.”
Several cities across California already have similar bans in place. West Hollywood, Berkeley, and San Francisco have outlawed the sale of fur in their cities. Earlier this year, Los Angeles unanimously passed a motion in favor of a similar measure. More than a dozen European countries have full or partial bans on fur farming. I addition, any major fashion houses have decided to part with animal fur including Gucci, Versace, Coach, and Burberry.
AB 44 would make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, give donate or otherwise distribute a fur product in the state. The bill exempts leather, cowhide, and shearling, as well as fur products used for religious purposes and used fur. The prohibition would apply only to the sale and manufacture of products including, but not limited to clothing, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, or key chains that contain fur and provides for a civil penalty for each violation.
“Going undercover into fur farms, I have seen the suffering and inhumane treatment of these animals first hand,” said March Ching, Founder of The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation and Animal Hope in Legislation, “as a culture, a people, and a community grounded in compassion, California is ready to go fur-free. Products that encompass such suffering have no place here.”
The fur industry’s main farmed species are essentially wild animals that are kept in small wire cages and are then subject to cruel killing methods that are not regulated by the humane slaughter laws. They are gassed, electrocuted, or have their necks broken. Anal or genital electrocution is a common method for killing fur animals.
“The fur industry’s days are clearly numbered. Whether it’s cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles banning fur sales, major brands like Gucci, Michael Kors and Burberry dropping fur, or top fur-producing countries like Norway and the Netherlands outlawing fur farming, the writing on the wall couldn’t be any clearer,” said PJ Smith, Director of Fashion Policy for the Humane Society of the United States. “We applaud Assemblywoman Laura Friedman for her leadership and commitment to a fur-free future and look forward to California becoming the first state to embrace innovation and cruelty-free fashion by banning fur sales.”
AB 44 would make California the first state to outlaw the sale and manufacture of fur products within its borders. The bill’s first hearing in a policy committee will take place in the spring.
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Laura Friedman represents the 43rd Assembly District which encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and La Cañada Flintridge, as well as the communities of La Crescenta and Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Beachwood Canyon, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, and Silver Lake.