Carrie Underwood sounds off on animal abuse bill

photo Carrie Underwood performs at the 2012 CMA Misic Festival in Nashville.

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NASHVILLE - Country music star Carrie Underwood is scolding Tennessee lawmakers and warning Gov. Bill Haslam she'll show up at his door if he signs a controversial bill requiring anyone taking photos or videos of livestock abuse to turn the material over to law enforcement within 48 hours.

"Shame on TN lawmakers for passing the Ag Gag bill," Underwood tweeted Thursday afternoon. "If Gov. Bill Haslam signs this, he needs to expect me at his front door. Who's with me?"

The House passed the bill Wednesday night. Critics charge it aims to deter groups like the Humane Society of the United States from carrying out long-term investigations detailing abuse.

The group conducted such an operation last year on a Tennessee walking horse trainer whose operation was in bill sponsor Sen. Dolores Gresham's district.

Gresham, a Somerville Republican, and the House sponsor, Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, said their bill would require quick action by anyone who records animal abuse.

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