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Researchers Is "Morally Acceptable," Says Popular Animal Rights Activist
Reported by: Brian Mullahy
Written by: Jonny Glines
Last Update: 4/27 12:49 pm
http://www.kutv.com/content/news/local/s...efa1045&rss=991A controversial animal rights activist spoke in a conference in Salt
Lake City, Saturday. 2NEWS' Brian Mullahy spoke with the Doctor who
had some startling words about methods used for the cause of animal
liberation.
Dr. Vlasak is a trauma surgeon in Southern California. And to him, all
forms of life are precious.
"I save lives everyday at the hospital. Everyday, I go to the
hospital, I save lives," says Dr. Vlasak.
But the doctor feels that if necessary, it's morally acceptable to
take human lives, if it saves the lives of many animals. Years ago,
Vlasak was quoted as saying, "I don't think you'd have to kill
-assasinate- too many. I think for five lives, ten lives, fifteen
human lives, we could save one million, two million maybe ten million
non-human lives."
Investigators say that Utah has seen its share of vandalism from
animal rights activists. A farm, where many biology students studied,
was burned down by activists.
At the "Confronting Animal Cruelty" conference in the Salt Lake City
Library, 2NEWS Brian Mullahy got a chance to speak with Dr. Vlasak
about the measures that activists should take.
Mullahy: Is Murder on the table as an option?
Vlasak: Whatever it takes to stop someone from abusing animals is
certainly morally acceptable.
Yesterday, 2NEWS spoke with University of Utah Associate Vice
President of Research Integrity, Jeff Botkin, who said,
When you get to a position in which you're literally advocating murder
in promoting your cause, then I think there's no question that's a
reprehensible point of view. And I think it's unfortunate that
individuals with those sorts of extreme points of view are invited to
represent the activist community here in Salt Lake.
But words don't faze Dr. Vlasak.
"Nothing is more violent and radical than what's being done to
non-human animals in our society," said Vlasak. "If a researcher won't
stop abusing animals and is stopped physically, whether with the use
of force, or is killed, I certainly wouldn't lose sleep over that
idea."
Organizers of the conference say they don't endorse the opinion of Dr.
Vlasak. However, the group did invite Vlasak to speak at the
conference.