A) A pervasive pattern of cruel, demeaning, and aggressive behavior, beginning by early adulthood, as indicated by the repeated occurrence of at least four of the following:

1. has used physical cruelty or violence for the purpose of establishing dominance in a relationship (not merely to achieve some noninterpersonal goal, such as striking someone in order to rob him/her).
2. Humiliates or demeans people in the presence of others.
3. has treated or disciplined someone under his/her control unusually harshly.
4. is amused by, or takes pleasure in, the psychological or physical suffering of others (including animals).
5. has lied for the purpose of harming or inflicting pain on others (not merely to achieve some other goal).
6. gets other people to do what he/she wants by frightening them (through intimidation or even terror).
7. restricts the autonomy of people with whom he or she has a close relationship, e.g., will not let spouse leave the house unaccompanied or permit teenage daughter to attend social functions.
8. is fascinated by violence, weapons, injury, or torture.

B) The behavior in A has not been directed toward only one person (e.g., spouse, one child) and has not been solely for the purpose of sexual arousal (as in sexual sadism).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadistic_personality_disorder
and:
Psychopathy (pronounced /saɪˈkɒpəθi/[1][2]) is a personality disorder whose hallmark is a lack of empathy. Robert Hare, a researcher in the field describes psychopaths as “intraspecies predators[3][4] who use charm, manipulation, intimidation, sex and violence[5][6][7] to control others and to satisfy their own selfish needs. Lacking in conscience and empathy, they take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without guilt or remorse”.[8] “What is missing, in other words, are the very qualities that allow a human being to live in social harmony.”[9]

Psychopaths are glib and superficially charming, and many psychopaths are excellent mimics of normal human emotion;[10] some psychopaths can blend in, undetected, in a variety of surroundings, including corporate environments.[11] There is neither a cure nor any effective treatment for psychopathy; there are no medications or other techniques which can instill empathy, and psychopaths who undergo traditional talk therapy only become more adept at manipulating others.[12] The consensus among researchers is that psychopathy stems from a specific neurological disorder which is biological in origin and present from birth.[10] It is estimated that one percent of the general population are psychopaths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
Direct action is the ONLY choice if you really care to stop the insanity. Anyone that doesn’t understand that is completely naive.

While many are quite satisfied doing “something”, there are still a few of us determined to be EFFECTIVE.

Most infighting results from those who criticize, negate, and dismiss direct action. The few anonymous freedom fighters this movement has are the real altuists and heros.

The only realistic way to stop the violent is with violence.

“Deligitmize animal torture” is a nice phrase, but what does it mean?

When Soviet troops liberated the tortured human animals from Dachau, they effectively “delegitimized” the nazi’s penchant to enslave jews in this camp.

The continued rhetoric in this movement about the ethics of violence does nothing more than REINFORCE SPECIESISM. This would never be an issue if the tortured animals in factory farms and labs were human children.

It just occurred to me that this is a major issue that needs to be addressed. There is a deeply-rooted yet latent speciesism in the collective psyche of certain segments of this movement.

Direct action was a fundamental tactic in every civil rights struggle.

I would question the wisdom of addressing violence with more violence. How do you overcome the issue of delegitimising the real issue of animal torture and suffering when the messenger take up arms.

Doesn’t everyone stop listening to the message and get nervous about the ‘gun’.

We can’t afford to be silenced.

1) Difficult ~ yes! Does 2) provide the materials to grasp an understanding of 1)?

5) “It must be repackaged as a cost-effective diet, as well as the healthiest, most ethical, and best path toward ecological regeneration and sustainability.” Yesyesyes…how to approach and achieve? 6) A clear direction.

11) It would be beneficial to have a group similar to Innocence Project, except focusing on AR prisoners, with legal minds involved, if there is not already.