布希總統3日簽下「禁鬥動物管制條例」(the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act)。由於美國人道協會及其相關聯盟6年來持續地鼓吹的,才促成這項嶄新且強硬的法規制定,使得鬥動物的活動將遭到聯邦處罰。
美國人道協會主席兼總裁帕思爾(Wayne Pacelle)表示:「這項違反人道行為的條例通過,是一項里程碑,執法機構現在有依據,可瓦解全美廣大地下鬥狗和鬥雞的聯合組織。」
這項法律將嚴格懲處跨州和進口動物的打鬥活動,及禁止鬥雞相關器具的跨州交易。各種違反該聯邦法的行為,可能被判3年有期徒刑和高達25萬美元的罰鍰。
華盛頓民主黨和參議院立法主要成員坎特維兒(Maria Cantwell)表示:「鬥動物的表演衍生出不只是邪惡的虐畜罪,還有毒品販賣、非法賭博、公眾貪腐,甚至謀殺行為。」
超過500個團體已經為此法背書,包括所有大型人道組織、美國獸醫協會、國家雞隻委員會、國家警長協會,及分布50州超過400個地方法治單位。
President George W. Bush signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act into law. The tough new legislation is the culmination of a six year campaign by The Humane Society of the United States and its allies to enact meaningful federal penalties for animal fighting.
"With the passage of this landmark anti-cruelty legislation, law enforcement agencies now have the tools to dismantle the vast underground network of dogfighting and cockfighting syndicates that operate throughout the country," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.
The law provides felony level penalties for interstate and foreign animal fighting activities, and outlaws interstate commerce in cockfighting weapons.
Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine
"Staged animal fights spawn not just malicious animal cruelty, but also drug trafficking, illegal gambling, public corruption, and even murder," said Senator Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat and primary author of the Senate legislation.
More than 500 groups have endorsed this legislation, including all major humane organizations, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Chicken Council, the National Sheriffs' Association, and more than 400 local law enforcement agencies covering all 50 states.
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