Free Speech vs Lunatics

A case to go before the Supreme Court involves a man who produces and sells videos, among them hunting videos and some with dog fights.  Dog fights?  I thought that was illegal?  It is in the United States.  But it is not in Japan.  It’s also more humane, if there is such a thing.

The law he was prosecuted under was legislated to stop crush videos, where women in high heels step on and kill small animals.  People get off on this?  But, like most laws, this one was subvertedby who knows what group (PETA cough cough) and then implemented in ways that were unintended.

For instance, one of the videos used to convict Mr. Stevens, the producer of these tapes, showed a dog catching a wild boar and holding it until the hunter arrived.  This isn’t an uncommon thing in hunting.  And yet, under this law, any video of it is illegal.  Dove hunting is illegal in ten states.  If you were to videotape somebody shooting a dove in one of these states, or sell that video in one of these states, you would be committing a criminal act.  Same thing with Bull fighting.

The animal rights groups want to make animal cruelty the equivalent of child pornography, and have made that comparison.

And the sentence that Mr. Stevens received?  Three years.  Twice as long as Michael Vick, who actually held dog fights and killed dogs in a heinous manner.  Whatever happened to common sense?  There are animal abuse laws on the books.  Enforce them.  Vigorously.  Don’t take the easy out, or it will backfire on you and me.  Hopefully you more than me.

In Free Speech v. Dog Fights, Free Speech Should Win – Supreme Court – Gawker.