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On September 10 a judge in Utah sentenced animal rights terrorist Josh Ellerman to seven years in jail for his role in the March 1997 firebombing of the Fur Breeders Cooperative in Sandy, Utah. Ellerman faced up to 35 years in jail but received a reduced sentence in exchange for his cooperation in the prosecution of fellow members of the Animal Liberation Front.
Earlier in the week, five other animal rights activists were indicted in Salt Lake City for alleged acts of terrorism.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Schwendiman warned that animal rights terrorism would be vigorously prosecuted:
We support and defend the rights of people to say and think what they want. But when they choose to express those beliefs through violence that endangers lives and destroys property, it will be met with swift and sure prosecution.
Ellerman and the five recently indicted animal rights activists were members of the "straight edge" movement whose members foreswear drugs, alcohol, tobacco, casual sex, meat and leather -- but as Steve Milloy pointed out, apparently not explosives.