house Bill H.R. 724
Should Animal Torture Be a Federal Crime?
Argument in favor
Animal torture is an unconscionable crime that shouldn’t be tolerated at the federal level. Criminalizing this horrific crime at the federal level will make it easier to prosecute, and will bring federal law in line with state laws, which universally criminalize animal torture.
02/20/2019
Torturing anything, including people, including refugees, should be illegal. Start there.
02/20/2019
Why is this even a question? People who torture and kill animals should be punished!!
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02/20/2019
Basic psychology says that The people that could do this are likely doing equally horrible things across many aspects of their life. Accountability and punishment should be significant enough to deter this hiddeous behavior!
Argument opposed
Since animal torture is already illegal in all fifty states, there’s no need for an additional federal law criminalizing it. When these cases cross state lines, prosecutors can work together to determine which jurisdiction the crime occurred in, and prosecute accordingly.
02/20/2019
States already have laws against torturing animals. I see no reason for the federal government to usurp even more state power by legislating this at the federal level. What is the point of making a law to prohibit behavior that is already prohibited by law?
02/20/2019
should we not be more concerned about child abuse,and what is happening to those minor immigrant children? the rapes of young children,age 1 year,s years,and 5 years.., the violators got nothing for 1 year old,18 mos. for raping 3 year old,18 mos. house arrest for raping 5 year old repeatedly.. I say we need better protection for these children,trump is not d
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02/20/2019
It’s not that this isn’t a horrible crime but the state should certainly be able to dole out harsh punishment without involving the federal government.
Torturing anything, including people, including refugees, should be illegal. Start there.
States already have laws against torturing animals. I see no reason for the federal government to usurp even more state power by legislating this at the federal level. What is the point of making a law to prohibit behavior that is already prohibited by law?
Why is this even a question? People who torture and kill animals should be punished!!
Basic psychology says that The people that could do this are likely doing equally horrible things across many aspects of their life. Accountability and punishment should be significant enough to deter this hiddeous behavior!
Yes - defenseless animals NEED to be protected - laws need more bite. A slap on the hand of cruelty is not enough.
Animal abuse of any kind should be a federal offense and carry heftier fines and jail time. Just because animals do not have vocabulary we can understand doesn’t mean they don’t feel.
What one does to innocent animals could lead to similar acts on humans. Avert the dangers.
No doubt about it. Statistics show that those who torture animals have a propensity to move on to humans. Perhaps, if we intervene early enough, this will stop that cycle and save lives!
Sorry, but I need to add that we should not be eating horses and we should stop abusing them at rodeos! Go online, people, and see the abuse they endure to “perform” for you. It is absolutely unconscionable and heartbreaking to ANY person who cares about animals. I thought rodeo people loved and respected these animals. I was SO WRONG! Please stop this, too!
Yes, along with tearing children away from their family at the border, along with lynching, along with actual human torture, sorry, "enhanced interrogation," along with any form of violence.
Most serial killers have a history of animal torture. If they can do that to an animal they are more than likely prone to other violent acts and a threat to society. They probably also need therapy.
should we not be more concerned about child abuse,and what is happening to those minor immigrant children? the rapes of young children,age 1 year,s years,and 5 years.., the violators got nothing for 1 year old,18 mos. for raping 3 year old,18 mos. house arrest for raping 5 year old repeatedly.. I say we need better protection for these children,trump is not d
It’s not that this isn’t a horrible crime but the state should certainly be able to dole out harsh punishment without involving the federal government.
The cruelty in which many animals endure at the hands of depraved humans is unimaginable. Please help to prevent this type of cruelty by making it more punishable by law. Those without a voice deserve this protection.
People who torture animals must be punished appropriately. A slap on the wrist doesn’t stop them from reoffending against helpless animals.
In principal, torture of any kind (malicious intent to harm), including of animals, is heinous and should absolutely be a federal crime; neglect should be captured in here as well. State protections have shown to not be enough, and state laws don’t cross state lines - which it sounds like this bill tries to address. Beyond that, there is a ton of research that shows that people who inflict harm on animals - regardless of size or species - are far more likely to inflict harm on people. All frameworks point to making animal abuse of *any kind* a federal crime.
Animals deserve to be treated with the same dignity as humans. What we do to them shows more than anything how barbaric humans really are. It needs to stop and we need to be better than that.
How we treat the least of those among us says clearly and loudly to the world what our true character and intentions are.
It should require mandatory prison time on the first offense and be eligible for life sentence on the second. Perhaps it should be named in honor of Michael Vick, one of the greatest animal abusers.
Animals play an integral role in the lives of humanity. For many its food, and clothes. But for the majority it is as a life companion. How can we not protect the animals in our lives that act as our eyes, ears and emergency responders. Pets as companions aka best friend should enjoy a level of respect that in very least says "we will protect you, friend." Yes, people who are setting out with the intent to harm a defenseless creature, absolutely deserves to be reprimanded by a federal crime