Monday, October 05, 2009

Animal Cruelty and Free Speech

We can't do much on a borrowed laptop so we're just going to post a link to Dolittler's article on the Supreme Court, First Amendment and animal cruelty videos.

Cruel intentions: On the legality of animal cruelty in pictures

"The Supreme Court has agreed to take on a case pertaining to the First Amendment as it applies to animals. And that’s a good thing. When the highest court in the land is willing to review a legal matter that affects animals directly, it speaks to the growing concern for their welfare in all sectors of society.

"At issue is that, according to court watchers, the Supreme Court is likely to rule against animal defenders in this test of our stewardship mettle. But is that necessarily a bad thing?

"Hmmmm....how shall I equivocate?

"Tomorrow (October 6th) the Supreme Court will hear a case that questions the constitutionality of a 1999 law enacted to ban trafficking in 'depictions of animal cruelty.'”

You can read the rest of the article here.

Cruel humans always seem to find a way around any law passed to help protect animals. And that is all we have to say on this painful subject.

7 comments:

  1. I won't read the link because I know it is too upsetting - so here is a happy piece of news! A colleague of mine rescued an abandoned kitten from the basement of his house and is now bottle-feeding it - and it is very cute and happy. :)

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  2. interesting that the court is taking up the case.

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  3. Yes it is intriguing that the court will hear it.

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  4. It's significant that the court is willing to hear the case and not pass on it. That in itself gives legitamacy to animal right sefforts. But don't forget that some have proposed allowing animals to sue people; duh! The court will express an opinion that at least will form a framework to build upon as advocacy by people for animal right but not for animals to have be able to sue people.
    - TBH&K

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  5. This whole issue is upsetting. Glad the Court is taking the issue seriously. ~S,S,C & F

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  6. I have heard about this case. I think it is good that the court is hearing this case, but I am not too hopeful on the outcome. I wish animal cruelty videos could be banned just like child pornography ones. I hate to think what the sickos who watch these things must be like.

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  7. We don't understand why humans always make such a big and difficult deal for anyone trying to change the law to make life better for animals or to change the law to stop humans hurting us. It's always the same, humans get enraged that anyone should try and stop them indulging their penchant for suffering. We dispair, we really do. We are glad the court is choosing to hear the case though, maybe it will set a precedent.

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