(Photo Credit: Richard Vogel,File/AP)
California moves for a cruelty-free fashion future
Prior to California Gov. Gavin Newsom signing a bill into law Saturday, Los Angeles and San Francisco have put fur bans in place and last month the governor signed a law banning commercial fur trapping.
The recent bill signing though makes the state the first to ban the sale of new fur products. Newsom also signed another bill Saturday that bans most animals in circuses. Hawaii and New Jersey have similar bans to protect animals from inhumane treatment.
California has been rolling out the bans in a variety of areas; more recently, the state has taken steps to go against for-profit prisons and immigrant detention centers and small-sized hotel shampoo bottles.
However, the new fur law takes effect in 2023. Since its signing, the bill and California have received mixed reactions. The new bill was a win for animal rights activists but saw fervent opposition from the billion-dollar U.S. fur industry including threats of a lawsuit from the Fur Information Council of America.
A spokesperson for the Fur Information Council said in a statement that the new law is part of a “radical vegan agenda using fur as the first step to other bans on what we wear and eat.” Despite the opposition, Gov. Newsom remains resolute in his decision to sign and pass the bill.
“California is a leader when it comes to animal welfare, and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur,” Newsom said in a statement. Newson hopes that other states and the world will follow suit and take action to protect wild animals.
By: Maytinee Kramer
