Woman Who Tried to Arrange Fur-Murder Set Free

During the past few years, it appears that animal rights activists who oppose the wearing of furs are getting more violent and bold. Take, for example, the recent case of Meredith Lowell. Using the alias "Anne Lowery" on Facebook, the 27-year-old woman offered money  to someone for killing a person wearing fur “preferably 14 years or older” near a library in her hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Fortunately, someone alerted the FBI to her offer, and an undercover agent began a relationship with her regarding the upcoming “hit.” 

In an affidavit, an email from Lowell to the FBI agent stated, “You need to bring a gun that has a silencer on it and that can be easily concealed in your pants pocket or coat. ... If you do not want to risk the possibility of getting caught with a gun before the job, bring a sharp knife that is (at least) 4 inches long, it should be sharp enough to stab someone and/or slit their throat to kill them. I want the person to be dead in less than 2 minutes." Lowell’s plan? To pass out anti-fur flyers at the scene of the crime, calling attention to her beliefs and, according to an article online at CBS News, “to get out of the home she shared with her parents and brothers who eat meat and eggs.” Her family also commits the egregious errors of using fur, leather and wool. 

Last year, the court charged Lowell with one count of solicitation to commit murder, but a judge released her on Feb. 27, 2013, deeming Lowell is too mentally ill to stand trial. A psychological report found that she could not be capable of rehabilitation to competency. The judge also ordered her family to get rid of their firearms in their home. Lowell had been held at a federal medical center between her arrest last year and her trial. 

In an online post at NBC News, Cleveland Animal Rights Founder Jennifer Kaden commented, “I'm appalled and horrified that somebody would think that committing violence is going to further a cause that is all about non-violence." 

I have not seen any other statements from anti-fur groups on this topic. 

When a mentally disturbed person commits horrific acts against society with a gun, we want it explained and we want to deal with the reasons for the crime. Where is the outrage here? Doesn’t it stem from the same problem we’ve seen whether it involves firearms or fur? Or in this case, a combination? 

In a free society, we must take care of the mentally ill to ensure the safety of everyone, including those of us who wear and/or take fur.