By Earl "Skip" Cooper President & CEO of the Black Business Association
“If there is one thing that Californians usually agree upon, it’s that personal morality shouldn’t be legislated. And yet, that is exactly what is happening with AB 44, an Assembly bill that, if passed, would ban the manufacturing and sale of some types of natural and sustainable fur products. Supporters believe fur is immoral and wrong, and they wrongly believe that consumers who purchase the product are unwilling or unable to do the research on their own about what they are buying. As a result, this sets a precedent where the state removes consumers’ ability to choose what they can and cannot wear.
And not only does the bill attempt to legislate personal morality, it passes judgement on the significance of the traditions of certain cultural groups. For example, the bill provides exemptions relating to use by the Orthodox Jewish community and the Native American community, but it fails to recognize the cultural significance and important traditions surrounding fur in the African American community. ”
Read full article here: