The House passes a bill that makes animal cruelty a federal felony

[demmiblue]

Source: CNN

(CNN)The House has unanimously passed a bill that makes animal cruelty a federal felony.

The PACT Act -- which stands for Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture -- was approved by the House on Tuesday. The bipartisan act, introduced by Florida congressmen Ted Deutch and Vern Buchanan, will revise a previous law passed in 2010.

"The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Buchanan said. "Passing the PACT Act sends a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated."

Currently, federal law only explicitly prohibits animal fighting, and only criminalizes wrongdoers when they create and sell videos depicting the actual animal cruelty.


Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/23/politics/house-passes-pact-act-trnd/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2019-10-23T18%3A50%3A03

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[Bayard]

1. GREAT NEWS!!

We need some today.

[MissMillie]

2. Just curious

and not trying to be sarcastic; I just wonder if I'm missing something.

Are there states that do not prosecute animal cruelty and torture? Or are there states that consider it a misdemeanor?

Members of the House apparently felt this needed to be put into the hands of federal law enforcement rather than the states. Are the states slacking off?

[hlthe2b]

10. wide range of laws; wide range of loopholes; wide range of enforcement capabilities and priorities..

I haven't read the text, but I am glad to see this moving forward.

Next, we need a Federal law, much like Colorado's that addresses Law Enforcement lethal destruction of family pets when entering homes--with or without a warrant (no-knock). I honestly don't know what kind of monsters some locales are hiring, but I saw a poll not too long ago conducted in a couple of cities that showed a really poor degree of concern for pets among police officers and especially new recruits. (and obviously, I'd bet that correlates with low consideration for children and other 'collateral' damage).

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. My dogs come inside and are in their crates if

police are in the neighborhood.

[JohnnyRingo]

14. Private prison companies...

are always lobbying to make state offenses federal. Every new federal law is a bump in corporate profits.

So now instead of locking abusers up in county jail or a state prison, they'll be in with serial killers, terrorists, and tax cheats. Just kidding, they never lock up tax cheats.

[Duppers]

3. OMG!! About time. 😃😻

I'm so happy about this. 💃

Ok, now, will the Senate ratify this bill?

[dhill926]

4. good...

too bad the Senate will probably ignore it...

[Sugar Smack]

5. GOOD!!

GOOD! YES! This is the way it NEEDS to be!

[sakabatou]

6. Now how will the Senate vote on it

If it is taken to the floor?

[cstanleytech]

7. What about a bill to make it a felony to keep children in small cages?

[RainCaster]

8. Now we can watch the Senate do nothing once again

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Finally.

[BigmanPigman]

11. Fucking A!

Will the Turtle kill it? Since he is a turtle he should love it.

[drray23]

12. excelent!

people who abuse defenceless animals are sociapaths who deserved to be locked up.

[JohnnyRingo]

13. I'll come out as against this law.

I know it's not a popular stance, but it's not because I hate animals. Quite the opposite is true, but what I see is another federal law that will add to the overcrowding in federal prisons. I wouldn't be surprised if this law was sponsored by Corrections Corporation Of America in hope of snagging clients headed to state lock ups.

It's not like it was OK before today to torture animals in any of the 50 states, but it's a feel good law for animal lovers. This is not going to be a deterrent, just a shift in jurisdiction. How long before we federalize DUIs, shoplifting, and burglary. The FBI should have bigger fish to fry.

Federal prisons should be reserved for those who commit crimes against humanity and tax cheats.

[hlthe2b]

16. Uggh. There is nothing about the overt and grotesque incidents of animal cruelty that should lead

you to defend against strict laws and enforcement. Episodes in recent years across the country should make anyone's skin crawl, just as the obscene incidents with child cruelty. Would you likewise argue against increase protection of children via tougher laws because it might result in more people imprisoned?

Uggh. I just can't fathom a progressive so downplaying the impact and importance of animal cruelty. I just can't. It isn't a difference of "opinion or approach." It is a difference in what I consider humanity.



I don't want to argue with you. I am just appalled and disgusted.

[JohnnyRingo]

18. This law isn't "tougher".

It's just a new federal standard. Many states likely have stricter laws than this, maybe some don't.

The goal of this law is to make you feel good and transfer offenders into the federal for-profit prison system. More people are now likely to get probation because of overcrowding unless we build more prisons, and that's the whole idea. The very nature of private business is to expand.

Child abuse isn't even a federal crime... yet.

[mr_lebowski]

19. Only problem in your argument ...

Outside immigrants, Federal prisoners are less statistically likely to be held by private prisons than state prisoners.

Only 27K prisoners out of 121K total prisoners in private prisons, are federal prisoners. So, less that 1 in 4 privately held prisoners is a federal prisoner.

Ergo, you're much more likely to be in a private prison if you're a non-federal prisoner.

[JohnnyRingo]

21. I didn't know that.

I thought private companies exclusively owned federal lock ups. Thanks for the edification.

Still, the libertarian in me favors fewer laws when practical. i don't think this one has much use other than making politicians look warm and fuzzy, so to speak. And that's why DJT will do one of his show & tell moves on camera at the Resolution Desk when he signs it.

[Seedersandleechers]

17. Hope that includes

farm animals.

[mr_lebowski]

20. I was gonna say the same!

Keeping poor cows and pigs in cages too small for them to turn around is a f***ing TRAVESTY, and OBVIOUS animal cruelty.

No doubt Big Ag is exempt from something like this, however, given their lobbying power.