Larimer County, Colorado - Jeff Goodwin pitched "premises registration" to county commissioners on July 3rd, describing it as "a disease-prevention need." Goodwin is director of youth programs and 4-H at Colorado State University. "Registration is the first phase of a National Animal Identification System being implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Goodwin said at the meeting. Colorado is the poster state; Oregon and the rest of America are also targeted.

Premises registration is not about "animal identification" any more than it is about a used car salesman trying to pawn off someone else's lemon, hoping he can make you think it's a plum. "Animal identification" already exists. Brand laws are proven effective in the 41 states where food animals are raised. This form of traceback is excellent.

"Premises registration" targets, not disease prevention, but the control of private property. Questionable-at-best legality is sure to be argued in court. Colorado's youth, not legally old enough to subjugate real property, are being moved like pawns on a chessboard. The prize on which Goodwin and the USDA remain focused is your private property. "Premises registration" erases the word "private," enabling state and federal employees, and their partners, access to every square inch of your property at any time, ostensibly to check for the "potential" of disease.

Originally touted as "voluntary," mandatory compliance stands at the gate of your property rights: the "premises registration" steamroller. Speak up now -- or become part of the pavement. Don't buy that used car. The salesman stands to receive a commission, and you'll be stuck with a lemon, your property reduced to the equivalent of a rental property, which is always available for inspection by the landlord.

By Julie Kay Smithson,

property rights researcher, London, Ohio

propertyrights@earthlink.net

www.propertyrightsresearch.org

On the Net:

www.nonais.org

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/extension/