Does belief in a vegan diet amount to a religion? That is the contention in a lawsuit filed against Sacramento, California's jail by Eric Taylor McDavid who is being held there on charges of conspiring to blow up Nimbus Dam and a nearby fish hatchery in Rancho Cordova, and a U.S. Forest Service genetics lab in Placerville. According to today's report from the Sacramento Bee, Mark Reichel, McDavid's attorney, argues that his client's beliefs are protected under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. He claims his client's avoidance of animal products comes from "strongly, sincerely and firmly held beliefs, which are the same as a religious belief."
The sheriff's legal affairs spokesman, Lt. Scott Jones, says veganism is a lifestyle choice. He says the jail only makes dietary accommodations for medical reasons, and McDavid will get sufficient nutrition even if he only eats the acceptable portions of his meals. Also, inmates who keep kosher, halal and vegetarian diets can supplement their diets with items for sale in the jail's commissary. Jerry Read of the Corrections Standards Authority said his office does not regulate religious diets. He adds, "Case law changes too often. It comes up a lot - I don't know how many lawsuits there are, but enough that we can't keep up with it."
