On November 4th Proposition 2, which will effectively ban the use of caged systems for poultry, was passed in California. It is not over, though. California is only the 6th largest egg-producing state in the nation, and animal activists will not be satisfied until they go after the leading state: us.

But, it is not caged systems that animal activists are after. If this were so, there would have been a call for enriched cages that allow laying hens the same enrichment of non-caged facilities. Instead, they promote state laws like Proposition 2 which will force California egg producers to invest up to $800 million in non-caged facilities, while still competing with states who don't. California already imports 1/3 of its shell eggs, and it would not be difficult for these states to increase production in response.

California's own University of California-Davis, warned that such a market could not exist and would lead to the end of the state's egg industry. This would mean that the 18 million hens in caged housing could no longer be supported and would have to be slaughtered. Is this the animal rights activist's idea of animal welfare? When this legislation comes to our state, which it inevitably will, make sure to vote for our economy and vote against animal abuse.