Arkansas voted to make animal cruelty a felony

[jsamuel]

Additional time is given for committing the crime in the presence of a minor.

Just thought people might like to know that. It passed the state senate 34-0 and passed the state house 88-9.


http://nwanews.com/nwat/News/73613/

SB 77 would make the torture of dogs, cats and horses a class D felony on first offense, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It would provide for enhanced penalties for animal cruelty in the presence of a child.

It also outlaws all animal fighting.

...

It provides for a higher felony, a Class C, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, on a second offense of aggravated animal cruelty committed within five years of the first one.

[murray hill farm]

1. OK

Good for Arkansas. Other states should follow their example.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Wow. That is great.

Yes, every state needs this. Lock people up for cruelty to animals and people, not for smoking pot.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I'm so happy. This is about the fifth attempt to make it a felony in the last 15 years!

[AndyA]

4. Kudos to Arkansas for this.

I have zero tolerance for animal abuse. Animals have feelings, they experience fear and pain. I don't understand how a human could intentionally harm another creature or treat it without the respect it deserves.

[dbackjon]

5. Arkansas: Animals have more rights than Gays

Fucked up state

[jsamuel]

6. I am pretty sure torturing gays or any person is a felony too.

:eyes:

I am against the passage of the anti-gay adoption law, but it was written in a way so that voters didn't understand what it was. It said anyone adopting needed to be married (implying that singles shouldn't be able to adopt). However, it was obviously used as a tool to prevent gays from adopting.

[frebrd]

7. Good for Arkansas! K&R n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

8. Hooray for Arkansas! It should be a felony in EVERY state.

Prevention of animal cruelty = prevention of cruelty against humans.

[4 t 4]

9. I agree in Every state

woo hoo that is great we might just be evolving a tiny bit after all. A teeny tiny ray of hope for man kind

[bertman]

10. Great news. Let's go national with this.

[bvar22]

11. I wonder what the "cruelty" criteria is.

I live in rural Arkansas, and am aware of several puppy mills in the area.
I would like to close them down, and hope this new cruelty law will apply to dogs kept in confinement.

[mcg]

12. Factory farms are also cruel. nt

[LeftyMom]

14. Yes, but the law only applies to dogs, cats and horses.

Likely for exactly that reason.

[chatnoir]

13. Go Arkansas! Excellent news!

Now it needs to hit the other 49.

[roody]

15. I love Arkansas.