[GSDLVR76]

I got my new Dog Fancy and there was this article in it:

U.S Sen Bob Menedez, D-N.J recently introduced legislation to aid in the battle against animal cruelty. If passed, the Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act would require the FBI, for the first time, to include wuch wrongdoings under a seperate category in the agency's incident-based reporting system.

Law enforcement officials would then be able to track criminal activity, monitor trends, allocate resources more effiecently, and ultimately stop animal abusers before they commit worse crimes, says the bill proponents.

"Having the ablilty to track animal cruelty cases is long overdue anywhere in the country is a long overdue step that would not only help animals," says Michael Markarian of the Humane Society of the United States, "but would also give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to prevent violent offenders from escalating their terrible behavior."

I think this a step in the right direction.

 

[arycrest]

Originally Posted By: GSDLVR76...
"Having the ablilty to track animal cruelty cases is long overdue anywhere in the country is a long overdue step that would not only help animals," says Michael Markarian of the Humane Society of the United States , "but would also give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to prevent violent offenders from escalating their terrible behavior."
...

My paranoia of any ARs supported law makes me question the motivation behind this. What defines "animal cruelty"? Will it be true animal cruelty, or would it slowly include the AR agenda's definition of cruelty leading to the big bang that owning any animal is cruel in itself?

 

[ILGHAUS]

I'm with you on this Gayle. I get nervous with anything to do with HSUS.

The information is already in data bases of every arrest & conviction for whatever crime committed in the U.S. I'm not sure why the FBI would get involved unless it would be for something like large dog fighting rings spanning over more than one state.

So what exactly would this law serve? And what "tools" would be given to law enforcement agencies? Would that be the power to come onto your property or into your home to seize an animal without a search warrant or due process?

For now I'm not going to jump up and down in happiness on this bill.

 

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I don't think the HS would have anything to do with it?

I found this:
http://network.bestfriends.org/Abuse.aspx?url=/news/postdetail.aspx?gu=animalworldusa&np=21391

I think if you are arrested for cruelty you will go in a database.

From the link above: "Although all states have anti-cruelty laws and 43 states provide felony-level penalties, local police agencies do not have a place in their reporting forms to enter these crimes. The result is that animal cruelty crimes are assigned to miscellaneous categories that provide no further guidance to law enforcement agents or policymakers."

I mean-there's this site: http://www.pet-abuse.com/ that is about the most depressing site I have ever seen, for anyone to see.

But I think it would allow for uniform reporting of animal abuse and easier access to identify abusers.

At least that's how I am reading it.

And they just went to the HS guy for the big quote.

 

[shikari23]

Cruelty toward animals is one of the 'warning signs' of a potential serial killer in training. That's the main reason I can think of that the FBI might want to track this individually.

 

[ILGHAUS]

There is a space on the mittimus of any onview arrest. There is the charge, the case # and a narrative.

I can go on the database right now -- well if I had a reason -- and do a search on any member of this site who lives in the U.S. and with just their name and DOB run a criminal history search. (Just for some background info I am certified to do so and have been for over 10 years.) Or we can fingerprint them and submit their prints. The info is already there. I don't have a problem with a subcatergory of animal abuse, heck we already have a place for stolen boats etc. but my concern is how it is being presented and because of the big push by HSUS.

I know there is a relation between animal abuse, child abuse, and other crimes. I am all for education and intervention. But I believe we have enough laws already out there that are being ignored.

I just would like to read what new "tools" this is going to give law enforcement that they don't already have. And I am very uneasy with the power that HSUS already has when it comes to pushing their agenda through via new laws. For those that are not aware, in 2004 the HSUS set up a new organization to deal solely with this. They promote their views and supply a list of people to vote on. And since the original organization was walking a tight rope with the amount of lobbying they were doing -- a big no-no for a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status they set up another organization that is allowed to do nothing but be involved with legislation and backing of individuals to be placed in various political slots.

The following is from their site on the HSLF

Quote: Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office.

and

Quote:HSLF publishes the Humane Scorecard, which tracks the voting records of members of Congress, as well as a Voter Guide, which makes recommendations for supporting humane candidates. We also publish HumaneLines, a free electronic newsletter with news and action alerts. Please join HSLF as we take our legislative activity to a whole new level and push forward a wide range of reforms for animals. It’s time to get political for animals.

I just don't think a relatively small group of people should wield so much power and have so much funding behind them.

But all the above is my own opinion and I realize that I am probably in the 1% or less of the population that feels this way.

 

[selzer]

I do not support anything that give animal control or humane society people more authority, but this does not seem to be the case here. Animal cruelty is a crime and should be treated the same as if it was robbery or assault or child abuse. It should be the police, the sherriff, the state police if it fits in that category, or the feds if it goes over state lines such as dog fighting.

Having animal cruelty in the FBI data base gives them another tool to track evil people.