[Vision2020] The President Signs Landmark Animal FightingLegislation!!

[Tom Hansen]

Just when I felt that George Bush lacks even the slightest semblance of
humanity or human decency, he goes and does this.

So, yes, I am going to say what I thought that I would never EVER say:

"Thank you, George Bush.  We who care applaud and appreciate your
selflessness."

There.  I said it.  Granted, I feel a bit nauseous after having said those
words, but it's nothing that the proper medication and a couple years of
therapy won't cure.

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Saundra Lund
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 12:45 PM
To: 'Vision 2020'
Cc: ttrail at house.idaho.gov
Subject: [Vision2020] The President Signs Landmark Animal
FightingLegislation!!

Visionaires:

Drats -- I suppose it was only a matter of time until I had to send
President Bush a thank-you note (even a stopped clock is right twice a day),
and today was the day  :-)))  For inquiring minds, yes -- I've already sent
it  :-)

Yet here in Idaho we remain in the Dark Ages  :-(((

Now more than ever it's of vital importance for Dr. Trail's efforts at
reforming some of our animal laws to be successful!  Otherwise I fear Idaho
will become even more of a haven for these miscreants who will have a
negative impact on our quality of life as well as put strains we can
ill-afford on our criminal justice system.

http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/federal_legislation/cruelty_issues/anim
al_fighting_law_signed.html
OR
http://tinyurl.com/224op3

"The President Signs Landmark Animal Fighting Legislation 
  
May 3, 2007 
 
The fighting dog's life is full of misery.  

Today, President Bush signed into law a bill that will help law enforcement
rid the United States of dogfighting, cockfighting, and other forms of
animal fighting.

Dogfighting and cockfighting crimes are rampant in the United States, with
individuals arrested every week in scores of locations under state laws. The
vast underground networks generate pervasive animal cruelty, drug
trafficking, illegal gambling, public corruption and even violence and
murder. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which passed
Congress with large bi-partisan support, will give law enforcement a
stronger tool to crack down on this illegal activity.

"Animal fighting is a barbaric and inhumane practice, and it is fitting and
appropriate that we now have a national policy condemning and criminalizing
this form of organized animal cruelty," states Wayne Pacelle, president and
CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, which has led the national
battle against animal fighting and been the primary advocate for this
federal legislation.

The law takes effect immediately. It provides felony penalties for
interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting
activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. It will make it much
harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting and cockfighting to continue
their operations. Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three
years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators. 

Cockfighting is outlawed in every state except Louisiana, although there is
mounting pressure in that state to ban the practice. Many states still have
misdemeanor penalties for cockfighting. The federal law slaps felony
penalties on interstate cockfighting trafficking, and this should provide an
enormous deterrent for the tens of thousands of people involved in this
criminal industry. 

The law will have a devastating impact on major breeders of fighting
animals, who depend on customers from all over the United States and abroad.
Dog kennels rely on transporting their fighting dogs across state lines and
across the world to customers. The new law should substantially curb the
transport of fighting animals across state and U.S. borders. The HSUS is
already seeing some major breeders of fighting roosters cutting back on
production. 

The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act will help end the export of
fighting animals to other countries. Selling roosters to customers in the
Philippines and other nations can be lucrative for American cockfighters.
The new law puts increased pressure on the airlines to stop shipping
roosters to cockfighting hot spots. 

The new law had been introduced by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Rep. Earl
Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) in the House, and by
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Sen. Arlen Specter
(R-Pa.), and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in the Senate. It had also
been endorsed by more than 500 groups, including all major humane
organizations, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National
Chicken Council, the National Sheriffs' Association, and more than 400 local
law enforcement agencies covering all 50 states."


=======================================================
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================