Lions, tigers and First Amendment rights in Ohio

Lions and tigers and First Amendment rights, oh my!

Exotic animal owners in Ohio are fighting the state's restrictions on wild animals, saying the regulations violate their rights to free speech and free association.

The 2012 Dangerous Wild Animal Act was passed following a 2011 incident in Zanesville, Ohio in which an exotic animal owner set 50 of his pets loose before committing suicide. 

No one was injured while the animals roamed free – many were quickly hunted and shot – but a media firestorm prompted the Ohio Legislature to take swift action.

The law's language states that it intends to strike a “reasonable balance” between public safety and the rights of animal owners.

The regulations include setting standards for cages, land insurance and veterinary care, as well as a long list of animals that qualify as exotic or dangerous.

In the video below, exotic pet owners describe the financial burden caused by the regulations as well as the effects on the animals: