By Benjamin Yount    217-528-9844

SPRINGFIELD  –  One Illinois lawmaker says if people who love horses really want them treated well at the end of their lives, then the state should eliminate its ban on commercial horse slaughter. 

Northern Illinois Republican Jim Sacia [[ say-shuh ]] says after Illinois banned horse slaughter in 2007, many owners started selling their horses to processors in Mexico or simply abandoning them.  Sacia wants to allow for a plant in DeKalb to re-open.  But he knows he’ll face stiff opposition.

21610Sacia1                            :24                               …end of life issue.”

Rockford-area State Representative Dave Winters says the legislature needs to look at horse slaughter as part of the state’s agricultural economy.

21610Winter1                         :22                               …to slaughter.”

But many lawmakers say they don’t like the idea of creating a law to benefit one plant and one industry.  There is also plenty of opposition to the slaughter of horses itself. 

Sacia says he hopes to have a hearing on his plan next week, but he’s not guessing if his idea can become law.