Zeroing In On Sociopaths: Feds Finally Make Animal Cruelty a Top-Tier Felony

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/feds-finally-make-animal-cruelty-group-felony



The last big bust of a dogfighting ring in the U.S. spanned several Southern states and rescued 367 pit bulls destined for lives of misery and eventually violent deaths.

That was in August 2013. Since then, dog fighting busts have spanned the country, some discovered in drug raids, others revealed as gambling operations, others some combination of both. Animal welfare groups say thousands of dog fighting rings are operating nationwide and that the numbers may be increasing.

But no one can say for sure as neither law enforcement organizations nor animal welfare groups know how many dogs or people were involved in fight rings last year. No one can say with certainty how many people were arrested for organizing — or attending — these fights or if the numbers are more or less than other years. No reliable national statistics about dog fighting are available. In fact, no comprehensive national statistics involving any crimes against animals—torture, physical abuse or neglect—are kept.

That’s why animal welfare groups and law enforcement organizations are hailing the FBI’s decision to change the way it categorizes animal cruelty crimes. In a move advocacy and the National Sheriffs Association consider a big step forward in preventing and prosecuting cruelty to animals and associated crimes, the FBI is making animal cruelty a Group A felony, along with homicide, arson and assault. The move, announced two weeks ago, will take animal cruelty out of the category of “other” crimes not considered major by the FBI and will offer a way to track animal abuse.

[Enthusiast]

1. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

Thank you, xchrom.

[xchrom]

2. ...

[wheniwasincongress]

3. This is probably the only thing

I'd imagine liberals and conservatives agree on

[Divernan]

4. It's about damn time!

[democrank]

5. Finally!

Good move

[Arkansas Granny]

6. This is a good thing.

[whathehell]

7. Yaaaay!...I love animals!! n/t

[baldguy]

8. Will this cover cops indiscriminately shooting non-threatening family pets?

Or people that campaign for & promote BSLs?

[Sunlei]

9. excellent. To add Animal cruelty to FBI reporting system will make local police take more action.

It's really hard in some states to have the local police do anything.

[RadicalGeek]

10. As The Title of The Thread Says

Animal Cruelty is often the "Gateway Crime" for serial killers, etc.

[narnian60]

11. Just one word---

HURRAY!!!!

[logosoco]

12. Very good news!

Fighting animal abuse makes the world a better place.

[Scarsdale]

13. So glad

So glad to read this. People who abuse animals are not immune from abusing kids, too. Animals just want someone to love them, much like hmans do. How often have we seen cases of animals displaying much better mothering instincts than some humans?

[meow2u3]

14. Now the law needs to catch up with our attitudes towards animals

Companion animals need to be in a legal class by themselves: no longer mere property but not quite persons (human beings).

IMO, crimes against animals ought to be more harshly punished because animals cannot speak for themselves--they can't speak, period (except maybe for a parrot or other bird who can mimic human speech).

I personally recommend penalties one degree below crimes committed against humans. For instance, if 1st-degree murder of a human is punishable by life in prison, then the murder of a companion animals ought to be punished like 2nd-degree murder if the victim were human.

[get the red out]

17. I agree with you completely!!!!!!

Thank you for this post.

[Triana]

19. +1 n/t

[narnian60]

24. Radical thinking and

I totally agree!!

[deafskeptic]

15. about time.

people who treat animals in an ill manner tend to be like that toward people as well.

[Fumesucker]

16. As an animal lover and pet owner I applaud this

However I do wonder when the feds can find the time to get around to prosecuting human cruelty.

I also wonder if this will apply in any way to police officers who shoot pets for no apparent reason.

[Rhinodawg]

18. K & R

[ReRe]

20. K&R

It's only right and proper for humans sadists to be held accountable when they abuse defenseless animals.

It's also right and proper for the paper trail it will create on animal abusers. A record that will follow them until the day they die. A record that will stand up in a court of law.

[grahamhgreen]

21. Kick

[J_J_]

22. we are not prosecuting criminals in the highest ranks of government

Police are shooting innocent people in the streets and not being prosecuted.

I love animals, but the FBI has been failing miserably at protecting humans.

[grahamhgreen]

23. GEB is said to have tortured animals too... Maybe they can get him on that!

[Calista241]

25. Bravo!