Posted on 02/08/2013 8:43:35 AM PST by Beowulf9
An Indiana couple is facing up to 60 days in jail and $2,000 in fines for saving a deer from death. Jeff Counceller, a police officer, and his wife Jennifer spotted an injured baby deer on their neighbors porch. Instead of turning a blind eye to the dying fawn, the Councellers took the deer in and nursed it back to health.
They kept the deer, Little Orphan Dani, in their backyard as it recovered. Everything was fine until an Indiana Conservation Officer spotted Little Orphan Dani in the Councellers yard. The Councellers were charged with unlawful possession of a deer, a misdemeanor offense.
The day that Little Orphan Dani was to be euthanized by the Conservation Agency, the deer inexplicably escaped into the wild. Although Little Orphan Dani was able to get away, the Councellers may not be so lucky.
Historically, crimes have two elements: (1) actus reus (bad act), and (2) mens rea (bad intent).
Most people would agree that nursing an animal back to health is not a bad act in the sense of being morally blameworthy. Keeping the deer is deemed to be a bad act only because the legislature has said it is prohibited. Do we as a society want to punish acts that are not inherently wrong with criminal penalties?
http://blog.heritage.org/2013/01/30/couple-faces-jail-time-for-saving-a-baby-deers-life/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.heritage.org ...
I bet the people who tried to rescue this fawn know about the problems with overpopulation of deer.
Confess, I know you'd be tempted. Come on.
I wouldn’t take care of it myself. I’d call my animal control as he works with rescue organizations. I wouldn’t allow it to suffer but I wouldn’t nurse it.
Sorry, my mind was still on the lady who died after an abortion at 33 wks....libs love animals, it is just human animals that they have little value for.
Yes they do. It’s open season on the helpless. So many have been murdered.......
“Are YOU Heartless and well as STUPID!”
There’s alot of that going on, this isn’t the FreeRepublic we started out on.
Only 60 days
Only 60 days
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.