THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 18, 1996 TAG: 9608170002
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 37 lines
Dr. Michael Carey is to be commended for his courage in writing about the vicious campaign launched against his research by the animal-rights movement (``A cat or a brave soldier: Which must die?'' Another View, Aug. 3). Sad to say, his commentary is likely to make him a target for further vilification by those who would stop medical progress by ending vital animal research.
Lies, intimidation and violence by animal activists have delayed the benefits of vital research from reaching the public, driven scientists out of certain areas of inquiry and dissuaded promising young students from careers in medical science.
Research facilities are forced to divert scarce dollars into heightened security measures to guard against midnight visits by ``animal liberationists.''
Lobbyists for the animal-rights movement are responsible for a blizzard of bills before Congress and state legislatures each year, designed to drive up the costs of medical research without contributing to the actual welfare of the animals involved.
The movement's anti-science agenda is funded by hundreds of thousands of individual donors who read emotive, masterfully crafted direct-mail solicitations and pour money into the movement's coffers, wrongly believing that they are ``helping the animals.''
Other researchers, as well as health-care professionals and patients waiting for cures, must join Dr. Carey in bearing witness to the deceitful smoke-and-mirrors campaign against public health that is being waged by the animal-rights movement.
SUSAN E. PARIS, president
Americans for Medical Progress
Educational Foundation
Alexandria, Aug. 8, 1996 by CNB