We the undersigned support this petition to denounce the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to legalize the sale of videos depicting animal cruelty as entertainment. We urge Congress to immediately craft a replacement bill that can pass the Supreme Court's First Amendment analysis.
The case throws out the conviction of Robert Stevens, who sold videos depicting dogfighting, which is illegal in every state. Stevens was convicted under a 1999 law passed to ban the sale of Crush videos in which women crushed to death small animals, to satisfy the sexual fetishes of internet customers. Crush videos virtually disappeared from the internet following passage of the law, before the government initiated a single prosecution. The Bush Administration's indictment of Stevens in 2004 was the first time this law was used. The majority said the law was overly broad, prohibiting certain videos that the Court believes need First Amendment protection. In this 8-1 ruling, only Justice Alito got it right, said Dr. Elliot M. Katz, a veterinarian and president of IDA (In Defense of Animals) This law was intended to prohibit some of the most depraved forms of animal cruelty, and it worked. The Court's decision tells young people that vicious cruelty like dogfighting can be fun, entertaining, and profitable. This goes against the efforts of so many humane societies and millions of caring people across the country. We join Justice Alito in expressing concern that this decision is leading to a return of crush videos. Following the Third Circuit's decision that brought this case before the Supreme Court, crush videos have returned to the internet said Dr. Katz. Cases like this have immediate consequences that can only lead to more cruelty and abuse. Real animals will suffer and die in horrific ways because the Court has declared that animal cruelty and suffering can be sold as entertainment. This case is a huge step backward for the evolution of a humane society.
Please sign the petition to voice your disappointment in the passage of this Bill and we urge you to comment as to why you feel these videos will only encourage more unpunished animal abuse. Thank you!
We denounce the U.S. Supreme Court%u2019s decision to legalize the sale of videos depicting animal cruelty as entertainment. We also urged Congress to immediately craft a replacement bill that can pass the Supreme Court%u2019s First Amendment analysis. We feel passage of this bill will continue to encourage depraved forms of animal cruelty entertainment like dogfighting to satisfy the perverted mentality of individuals that find this "sport" both entertainment and financially rewarding. Should the legalization of the videos be approved, will it also legalize our rights to publish those people that take part in these activities and film these videos, this too is "freedom of speech". We must put an end to these violent activities against our animals and your signature on this petition is very important. Thank you for signing!
