Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Supreme Court strikes down law banning dogfight videos
In a move sure to outrage animal rights groups, the United States Supreme Court struck down a Federal law that was enacted to prohibit the sale of videos highlighting dogfighting. The Justices concluded that the intent of the Statute was simply too broad. The scope of the Statute could include hunting videos where life and death are also on display; and that in its current state it would affect an audience far greater than what the original intentions of the Statue were. I agree with Justice Roberts. The spirit of the law is virtuous, to protect animals that have no say or voice, brought into a life of cruelty and death, however, the law since it was written over a decade ago, become too far reaching into accepted, "mainstream" videos that depict activities most would consider normal. Hopefully a new, specific law will be crafted so that the persecution of those who commit these heinous acts towards animals will not stop.
After doing a long case study on dog fighting, I have came across a growing number of laws that are now being enforced in efforts to help protect animal rights and further punish those who are taking part in such gruesome acts. Felonies and misdemeanors are being charged left and right to anyone taking part, from the dog trainers/owners to spectators and gamblers. Although each state has their own set of laws, dog fighting is a felony nation wide. I certainly hope that one day all pictures and videos of mangled animals being forced into these death rings will be abolished.
ReplyDeleteRachel Hoolahan
POS2001 T 7:00 PM