I don't see how this addresses the OPs concerns at all. To me it is not just a moral issue. Humanity, meat eaters or not, have to address the problem that our present day food gathering processes are having a huge toll on the planet. We just cannot justify eating meat everyday at the price of poisoning our planet. May not need to make it illegal, but better regulation in the industry is sorely needed.
I'm really weird about this.. because I'm a huge animal rights kinda guy. I've rescued / nursed back to health probably a good 3 dozen animals between childhood and now ( My mother did it, I helped and then eventually started doing it on my own ). I've volunteered on multiple occasions to help (insert animal here). I've worked at 2 exotic pet stores. Hell I even rescued a greyhound (The love of my life Tessa). I've always been the type of guy to prefer animals to people, even to this day. I have a weird connection to animals and have bonded to animals people have thought incapable of emotion (Long story short I found a baby snapping turtle that was hit by a car, it ended up being 60 pounds in my backyard in a kiddy pool, and it would come to be when I called it, never show any signs of aggression - I could scratch his neck etc, even though it could've taken my hand off without effort.) All that being said. I love meat. I'm almost strictly a carnivore. I disagree with the treatment and living conditions for many animal farms, but I don't think that "making meat illegal" is the correct decision. Just more humane ways of killing them, and a better quality of life. An instant, pain free death should be a mercy granted to any animal that is going to be eaten in my opinion. They should have adequate living space, social interaction, quality food, and protection from the elements. OmegaLSA
If they aren't smart then it's okay if we eat them. Op claims they are smart.. So are they smart or not?
In Genesis, God make all living things and placed man above them. God made us to watch over them, and to sustain ourselves upon them. In the New Testament, Peter did not want to eat 'unclean food' but God placed a tarp with many animals on it in front of him and said, "How could you call anything I have made unclean? All creation is fit and ready to eat, shed your foolish customs." I have nothing at all against vegans. I think that it is pretty cool what they're doing, and it most certainly has advantages. However, I do not believe it is wrong to eat meat, or justifiable to criticize those who so choose to eat it. Who gave you the right to grow plants simply to kill and eat them? I'll leave you with that.
I am not justifying that it's right to kill off these animals, but most animals that went extinct not for our food, but for money. Anyways, we are human. This is earths cycle. We will eat and kill but earth will find a way.
The process used by slaughter houses , is painless and quick. A lot more quicker then a lot of catches by other predator creatures . A lot less cruel and barbaric as well. We don't regulate the killing between animal to animal. Why regulate the consumption of meet from human to human? It's really funny to hear others talk about it though. How's about you focus more on the oil spills in the ocean ? This is killing animals all the time, without consumption ! At least we consume what we kill.