Proposed law would make animal cruelty a felony across the U.S.

CBS News ^ | January 28, 2019 | Christopher Brito

[C19fan]

Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives re-introduced a bill last week that would make malicious acts of animal cruelty a felony nationwide. A person convicted of the crime could face a fine or up to seven years in prison, or both.

The bill, known as the Preventing Animal Cruel and Torture (PACT) Act, is co-sponsored by Democrat Ted Deutch and Republican Vern Buchanan. PACT would criminalize "crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating and impaling animals." The measure would also address bestiality and other attempts to sexually exploit animals.

Deutch tweeted, "We will get this done. It's bipartisan, common-sense policy that will protect our animals."

[C19fan]

Where in Article I, Section 8 does it empower Congress to make animal cruelty a federal crime? The issue of animal cruelty has always been treated at the state or local level.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Throw human embryo cruelty in with the new law and you can’t count me in.

[wally_bert]

I’m all for it.

No sympathy for people who beat up and abuse animals.

[dan on the right]

Great, so in NY it is OK to abort a baby at 9 months - but God forbid you kick your dog! Federal Crime!

Those, folks, are the priorities of the Progressive Left!

(But, either way, please don’t kick your dog or abort your baby!)

[BenLurkin]

Out of control government is out of control.

[DMZFrank]

In a post constitutional US, anything goes. Such as a federal right to health care insurance, abortion, homosexual marriage, college education, you name it. Penumbras and emanations! Use your imagination!!!

[Boardwalk]

I am for it too.

[PSUGOP]

I guess I better get rid of the mice in my shed now........

[Drago]

Not a function of the Federal Govt....get back to real business, balance the darn budget!

[crosdaddy]

We won’t count you in.

[fruser1]

There goes the soft meat business.

Something to do with the adrenaline. The meat of tortured animals is so much sweeter.

[imardmd1]

I am plagued by squirrels trying to find ways into my attic. I want to shoot them dead, maybe skin and eat the ones I shoot. This is a felony yet to be enacted?

[pfflier]

Remember the anti smoking lobby tactics. All they ever wanted was their own section in a restaurant.

This is the first step to outlaw meat eating.

[Spruce]

Hell, why do we need individual states, anyhow? Just abolish all states and reorganize as a unitary oligarchy. Call it “Democratic Peoples Republic of America “.

F*ck the States!

[Lurkinanloomin]

Not everything has to be a federal crime.

How about just doing what the Constitution says and protect the states from invasion?

[piasa]

How do these morons think nuisance animals like skunks are dispatched?

[Gay State Conservative]

Of course one shouldn't intentionally abuse animals...or neglect those in his/her care.But if I was a juror in an animal cruelty trial I'd never vote guilty on any charge that was a felony or involved anything more than a short time in jail.

Cruelty toward,or neglect of,humans? A very,very different story.

[AppyPappy]

Aren’t unborn humans technically animals?

[vette6387]

I hope the first people to go to jail with this law are the cops who shoot people’s pets without justification.

[Joe 6-pack]

"No sympathy for people who beat up and abuse animals."

Same here, but in and of itself, this is not a function of the federal government.