make aggrev. animal cruelty a felony

[Guest guest]

does anyone know how helpful a petition like this is likely to be? I

received the following from In Defense of Animals. Stephanie

 

On Aug 21, 2002, 17-yr old Russell Watson, savagely beat a 1-yr old pitbull,

Rahkim, with a baseball bat. The beating was recorded by a security camera in

a Laundromat in which the puppy went into seeking refuge from Watson.

 

The video shows the pup entering the site limping and bloodied from Watson

attacking him and hiding behind a row of washing machines. Watson can then be

seen walking in dangling a baseball bat. The next thing the tape shows is

sickening. Watson finds the pup, lines up the bat, and delivers several

crushing blows to Rahkim's head and rendering him unconscious. Watson then

drags Rahkim out of the Laundromat by his legs and abandons him a block away,

leaving Rahkim to die.

 

Rahkim sustained severe injuries and on Aug 22, 2002, Rahkim's owners/family

had him euthanized. The pup belonged to 10-yr old Alexis Broadway who lives

only a few blocks from where the attack took place.

 

Under Pennsylvania law, Watson was charged with a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor

which sentencing is at least $1k & /or 2 yrs imprisonment. However, he was

sentenced to serve only 5 months in juvenile hall. Pennsylvania is 1 of 21

states that do not recognize Aggravated Animal Cruelty as a felony.

 

To sign and forward the petition go to <A

HREF= " http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/786667561 " >

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/786667561</A>

Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,

Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio,

Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming are

the 21 states that still charge aggravated animal cruelty as a misdemeanor.

I am looking for volunteers in these states to

post a hard copy of the petition in local pet stores, veterinary hospitals,

and SPCAs. Please contact <A

HREF= " firedncr " >firedncr</A> if you are interested in

volunteering.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

>

> does anyone know how helpful a petition like this is likely to be? I

> received the following from In Defense of Animals. Stephanie

>

> To sign and forward the petition go to <A

> HREF= " http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/786667561 " >

> http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/786667561</A>

 

 

My personal opinion is that handwritten individual letters are the most

effective lobbying tool. I think online petitions are probably a lot less

effective. I think there are a few folks on the list who are involved in

lobbying so hopefully the will speak up and add their opinion.

 

Cheers,

Tammy

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

I just sent an e-mail to Nicole Turner asking her what US Senator Leahy can

do to change the states' laws since it would not be a federal bill.

Federally, we have the Animal Welfare Act but it does not cover cases of

cruelty like this one. It covers animals in laboratories, circuses, puppy

mills, etc.

Each state has to introduce a bill to amend their state law. It would most

likely be to make it a " wobbler " in that depending on the severity a

misdemeanor or felony can be charged. That's what we have here in Cal. We

would not be able to pass this law now because of the three strikes law.

Legislators don't want to make anything a felony anymore because people

would be mandated to get 25 to life for the third felony.

In Calif I see that with our wobbler law, I never see anybody charged with a

misdemeanor for cruelty. They always charge a felony since that option is

open to them and they want to start out with the strongest penalty and then

it gets worked down from there.

Yes, individual letters are always the best. And constituent letters are the

strongest.

Hoppy Holly Daze, Tammy!

Virginia

The Fund for Animals, SF

 

-

Tammy <govegan

<inthepresent;

Tuesday, December 17, 2002 7:51 PM

RE: [sFBAVeg] make aggrev. animal cruelty a felony

 

 

> >

> > does anyone know how helpful a petition like this is likely to be? I

> > received the following from In Defense of Animals. Stephanie

> >

> > To sign and forward the petition go to <A

> > HREF= " http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/786667561 " >

> > http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/786667561</A>

>

>

> My personal opinion is that handwritten individual letters are the most

> effective lobbying tool. I think online petitions are probably a lot less

> effective. I think there are a few folks on the list who are involved in

> lobbying so hopefully the will speak up and add their opinion.

>

> Cheers,

> Tammy

>

>

>

> *Got Questions? We got answers! See the SFBAVeg FAQ at

http://www.generationv.org/faq.htm

>

> *SFBAVeg Charter: http://www.generationv.org/charter.htm

>

>

>