Freedom of the Press: 1 — Iowa Farmers: 0

Iowa's "Ag Gag" law was just ruled unconstitutional:

A federal judge has ruled that Iowa's "ag gag" law is unconstitutional, saying the industry-backed statute violates the First Amendment's free-speech protections.

Senior Judge James Gritzner granted summary judgment Wednesday to a group that sued over the law.

"Today's decision is an important victory for free speech in Iowa,” said Rita Bettis Austen, ACLU of Iowa legal director.

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The ACLU challenged the law, along with Bailing Out Benji, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the national Animal Legal Defense Fund and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, among others.

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The 2012 Agricultural Production Facility Fraud law made it a crime for journalists and advocacy groups to go undercover at meatpacking plants, livestock confinements, puppy mills and other ag-related operations to investigate working conditions, animal welfare, food safety and environmental hazards, among other practices.

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Federal courts have struck down similar laws in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Litigation is ongoing in North Carolina.

Corporate interests are to free speech as Ebola is to French Kissing, and politicians are too busy taking campaign donations to give a sh%$ about free speech.