At the giant Harris Ranch in western Fresno County, California, investigators are still working to solve the January 8th arson that damaged 14 tractors and several cattle-hauling trailers. Anonymous animal-rights activists have claimed responsibility for the fire.

A 2006 law will likely be used to prosecute any or all of what some are calling “Agricultural Terrorists”. But attorney Rachel Meeropol believes the law reaches far too broadly. Meeropol is with the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights and is representing five activists in a lawsuit.

That lawsuit argues that the 2006 Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act violates the First Amendment rights of those who want to protest how animals are treated. Meeropol says, – we’re not saying that one can’t punish arson, but that’s not what the 2006 law is about.