West Hollywood bans the sale of fur clothing (KTLA-TV / September 20, 2011) |
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VIDEO: WeHo First City in Nation to Ban Fur Sales - Jaime Chambers reports
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POLL: Fur Sale Ban
Do you agree with West Hollywood's decision to ban the sale of fur?
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Yes (1517 responses)
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No (2033 responses)
3550 total responses
(Results not scientific)
This poll is closed to voting.
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Beverly Hills, L.A. Ban Cat Declawing
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- VIDEO: West Hollywood Votes To Snuff Out Smoking in Public - Eric Spillman Reports
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KTLA) -- The city of West Hollywood has approved a ban on the sale of fur clothing, making it the first fur-free city in the nation.
City Council unanimously approved the ban after a late-night meeting Monday.
Animal rights activists argued for the ban, saying animals are being used solely for profit and vanity.
"It's an important cause because most people do not know how animals are killed for fur," said Shannon Keith of Fur Free West Hollywood, who pushed the ordinance.
"Animals are brutally killed, brutally treated. They're anally electrocuted. They're skinned alive. Their heads get bashed in. They suffer extreme circumstances just to be a fur trim or a fur coat on somebody in the name of fashion," she said of the practices used to create fur clothing.
West Hollywood has already banned the sale ofcats and dogs in stores and the declawing of cats.
Others argue that the ban takes away their freedom of choice. Business owners and retail workers say the ban will have an economical impact.
"We feel it's unconstitutional," said West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President, Genevieve Morrill.
"These shops make up a great part of the economy in West Hollywood so they should be careful what they wish for because at the end of the day, this could affect not only West Hollywood but the entire economy in Los Angeles," said a retail employee who chose to remain anonymous.
The city council is expected to meet again in two weeks to work out the details, including when the ban will go into effect and what penalties will be enforced for violators.
City Council unanimously approved the ban after a late-night meeting Monday.
Animal rights activists argued for the ban, saying animals are being used solely for profit and vanity.
"It's an important cause because most people do not know how animals are killed for fur," said Shannon Keith of Fur Free West Hollywood, who pushed the ordinance.
"Animals are brutally killed, brutally treated. They're anally electrocuted. They're skinned alive. Their heads get bashed in. They suffer extreme circumstances just to be a fur trim or a fur coat on somebody in the name of fashion," she said of the practices used to create fur clothing.
West Hollywood has already banned the sale ofcats and dogs in stores and the declawing of cats.
Others argue that the ban takes away their freedom of choice. Business owners and retail workers say the ban will have an economical impact.
"We feel it's unconstitutional," said West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President, Genevieve Morrill.
"These shops make up a great part of the economy in West Hollywood so they should be careful what they wish for because at the end of the day, this could affect not only West Hollywood but the entire economy in Los Angeles," said a retail employee who chose to remain anonymous.
The city council is expected to meet again in two weeks to work out the details, including when the ban will go into effect and what penalties will be enforced for violators.
