West Hollywood Approves First Ban on Fur in United States

West Hollywood has become the first place in the United States to ban the sale of fur clothing within its city limits.

Putting animal rights before fashion, vibrant shopping spots in West Hollywood will no longer be allowed to sell fur. Leaders of the California city of West Hollywood have given final approval to a first-in-the-nation ban on fur sales.

A five-member City Council of the municipality between Beverly Hills and Hollywood voted 301 with one abstention early on Tuesday to approve the ordinance. The ban was tentatively adopted by the council on September 30 and was expected to win easy enactment two weeks later.

However, the ban did run into stiff opposition from the local Chamber of Commerce and the fur industry, who main trade group, the Fur Information Council of America, happens to be based in West Hollywood.

Opponents of the ban say that nearly half of the 200 apparel stores in West Hollywood sell at least some fur items and that merchandise made with animal pelts is estimated to account for up to $2 million in revenue for those businesses each year.

Despite the opposition, the city’s famously left-leaning political establishment eventually embraced the ban. Supporters of the ban say that furs are produced from animals that are inhumanely killed for their pelts.

The ban will take effect on September 21, 2013 – this date was pushed back from June 30, 2012 in part because city officials want to conduct their own study on how the ban will affect local businesses.

Source: KTLA

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