Notice how leather shoes get exempted from this. The shoe lobby is still strong in Massachusetts. Big Shoe knows how to put their foot down and grind opposition under their heel.
I think there are degrees and differences between, on the one hand fur, which comes from animals raised solely for fur, and, on the other, leather, which is mostly a byproduct of animals raised for meat. Politically, eating meat is mainstream and wearing fur is niche and therefore banning it is less controversial.
Arguably, there isn’t a whole lot of absolute moral difference between eating factory raised pork, wearing fur, and beating your dog to death, but legislation is based on consensus, not absolute morality. Personally I think eating meat and wearing leather are morally mostly ok and I do both; I am personally morally uncomfortable with fur but don’t condemn people who wear it, and I condemn to hell anyone who savagely beats his dog. I suspect my position is common enough to account for the laws being as they are.
As long as there's a meat component to our food industry, there will be a lot of animal hides. It's not like the leather trade encourages animal killing (except for exotic-animal leather, and yes, that should stop), because there's a huge supply of hides already. Leather is a very useful material. Not an irreplaceable one, but if those hides weren't used, they'd just be added to the waste stream.
The actions of a democratically elected government reflect the consensus opinion of the electorate. Look for Wellesley to ban meat if and when meat-eating becomes a fringe position among the voters there.
this is a fine idea, one that i support, but its not like wellesley is the epicenter of haute couture shopping. this probably impacts like 2 stores, max, none of which are specialty furriers.
I'll bet there's a fair amount of fur garments gathering dust in Wellesley closets. Could there be a way of certifying as "vintage" and allow that to be reused for trim on...? Ah... never mind. Red paint will flow.
Do towns have the authority to pass this kind of law without a home rule petition? Can they ban the sale of any item in the town which is otherwise allowed in the state?
I challenge everyone to watch some Peta videos of how some animals have been gutted alive, stomped on, skinned alive, etc. Most people like to keep their heads in the sand and won't watch because it's too gruesome.
Comments
Easy... it’s gauche
Easy... it’s gauche
Notice how leather shoes get
Notice how leather shoes get exempted from this. The shoe lobby is still strong in Massachusetts. Big Shoe knows how to put their foot down and grind opposition under their heel.
What about leather?
Serious question.
Reasonable question
I think there are degrees and differences between, on the one hand fur, which comes from animals raised solely for fur, and, on the other, leather, which is mostly a byproduct of animals raised for meat. Politically, eating meat is mainstream and wearing fur is niche and therefore banning it is less controversial.
Arguably, there isn’t a whole lot of absolute moral difference between eating factory raised pork, wearing fur, and beating your dog to death, but legislation is based on consensus, not absolute morality. Personally I think eating meat and wearing leather are morally mostly ok and I do both; I am personally morally uncomfortable with fur but don’t condemn people who wear it, and I condemn to hell anyone who savagely beats his dog. I suspect my position is common enough to account for the laws being as they are.
Beating your dog to death
would fall under animal cruelty laws, for good reason -- slaughter is done in a *much* more humane fashion, where it's done properly.
(No, it's not done properly everywhere, but this false equivalence is no good.)
In a good meat operation, the animals live healthy lives on pasture and then have a quick and surprising end to their lives.
Sounds like you haven't read anything about factory farms...
Unfortunately it's not Old McDonald had a farm anymore....
Duplicate
(Duplicate)
You mean meat?
As long as there's a meat component to our food industry, there will be a lot of animal hides. It's not like the leather trade encourages animal killing (except for exotic-animal leather, and yes, that should stop), because there's a huge supply of hides already. Leather is a very useful material. Not an irreplaceable one, but if those hides weren't used, they'd just be added to the waste stream.
Okay then
What about meat?
Will Wellesley "cut your meat"? Ban all meat? Ban inhumanely raised meat?
This could get interesting.
The answer to your question
The actions of a democratically elected government reflect the consensus opinion of the electorate. Look for Wellesley to ban meat if and when meat-eating becomes a fringe position among the voters there.
Karen agrees
As long as they don't ban her Tall Non-Fat Latte With Caramel Drizzle, she's on board..
Magoo sez
Ah shucks. Magoo is going to have to shutter his planned store selling hamster fur finger sweaters. Magoo.
a fine idea
this is a fine idea, one that i support, but its not like wellesley is the epicenter of haute couture shopping. this probably impacts like 2 stores, max, none of which are specialty furriers.
I’m gay
I’m gay
first they took my newports
now i cant buy mink coats in wellesley anymore?
How many stores?
How many fur stores are there in Wellesley?
According to the article
None, some stores had coats with fur lined collars and most of them were fake fur.
Just making a statement for the most part
What's next? Banning cannibalism?
Geez
You eat one lousy foot, and they call you a cannibal.
Boston city councilors
Are obviously falling behind in the virtue signaling olympics.
Vintage furs?
I'll bet there's a fair amount of fur garments gathering dust in Wellesley closets. Could there be a way of certifying as "vintage" and allow that to be reused for trim on...? Ah... never mind. Red paint will flow.
What about roadkill?
You can get some pretty nice fur off roadkilled animals if they just got clipped by the bumper and not ground into a paste by a semi.
Does not apply to used furs
On a serious note, here's a quote from the article:
« Wellesley becomes the first community outside California to enact such a ban, which does not apply to used fur. »
Arguably, all fur is used fur... :-)
Great point!
Maybe used fur should only be allowed if the previous owner (the mink) provides "express, written, concent." For it's usage.
Used Fur
When's the last time you saw a genuine mink coat in a Goodwill?
Retail is brick and mortar is
Retail is brick and mortar is dead. Nobody sells fur locally in Massachusetts.
Do towns have the authority
Do towns have the authority to pass this kind of law without a home rule petition? Can they ban the sale of any item in the town which is otherwise allowed in the state?
Excellent!
I challenge everyone to watch some Peta videos of how some animals have been gutted alive, stomped on, skinned alive, etc. Most people like to keep their heads in the sand and won't watch because it's too gruesome.