PETA makes an ass of themselves once again...

[Archae]

An animal-rights group wants an Indiana man accused of murdering his former girlfriend and eating part of her body to receive a vegan diet while he is in custody, saying it could help protect jail staff, a spokesman said on Monday.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter last week to Clark County, Indiana, Acting Sheriff Brian Meyer, encouraging him to provide a diet free of animal products for Joseph Oberhansley.

“It would really help Clark County in its jail system,” said Kent Montville, a spokesman for PETA.

Oberhansley is accused of breaking into the Jeffersonville, Indiana, home of his ex-girlfriend, Tammy Jo Blanton, earlier this month, murdering her and abusing her corpse by eating parts of it. Jeffersonville is across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/09/animal-rights-group-seeks-vegan-diet-for-jailed-suspect-in-indiana-cannibalism-murder/

[hifiguy]

1. How do these morans still exist as an organization?

Who is dumb enough to send them money?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I don't see the 'ass' part.

The letter, signed by Lindsay Rajt, PETA’s associate director of campaigns, said other correctional facilities had seen a decrease in violence after switching to vegetarian meals.

...

Montville replied that the letter was meant as a good-faith effort to reduce jail costs and violence among inmates, and that everyone was “rightfully horrified” by Oberhansley’s alleged actions.

If there is data that shows that vegetarian diets are linked to a decrease in incarceration violence (as well as spending savings), that makes sense. Looks to me more like an attempt to smear PETA for the sake of smearing PETA.

[Archae]

3. I do realize that facts are lacking at PETA...

Got anything besides a PETA newsletter, that shows evidence that vegetarian meals reduce violence in jails?
I didn't think so.

As for "smearing" PETA, they deserve all the slamming they get.

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-insane-peta-publicity-stunts.php

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. I don't even have a PETA newsletter, sorry.

Since I'm not in PETA. But I don't automatically assume they're lying as you seem to.

[delete_bush]

5. This doesn't prove that eliminating meat alone

reduces violence, in fact it's more likely that offering inmates a program that makes a difference in their lives is the overall influence, but diet IS a part of a program that seems to work at one high risk facility .

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133505880/at-end-of-the-line-prison-an-unlikely-escape

Regarding food costs, "Get sent to jail in Arizona’s Maricopa County and you’ll be experiencing some serious life changes. And for those who eat meat, that includes going vegetarian.

Arpaio’s latest move is a plan to transition all of his inmates in the county’s eight jails to a vegetarian diet. On the surface, it might sound like a health-conscious move from the 81-year-old lawman. But Arpaio said the change is all about saving the county money.

“Little by little, this is the first step to go vegetarian,” he told Phoenix affiliate Fox 10. “There will be no more meat on the menu, we’ll save $100,000.”

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. That's actually rather funny.

I wouldn't normally associate Arpaio with programs to 'make a difference' in people's lives. But I can see why he'd want to do everything he could to save money, given how often he gets sued.

[delete_bush]

7. They do make rather strage bedfellows,

don't they. Of course, Sherriff Joe is only doing this to (1) save money (2) pizz off the inmates.

Personally, as long as they're being adequately fed I have no problem with this. Saving taxpayer money while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint is a win-win.