Proposed Bill Could Make Animal Cruelty a Federal Felony
The first thing that came to mind when we found out about a new proposed bill concerning the well being of animals is "Why isn't this a Federal Felony already?" According to the Orlando Sentinel, two of Florida's finest have reintroduced the bill that would make horrible acts of animal cruelty and bestiality a felony under federal law. Florida congressmen Ted Deutch and Vern Buchanan are sponsoring the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. The congressmen addressed “crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating and impaling animals” and they also included sexually exploiting animals. Those convicted of the crime could face up to seven years in prison which still isn't enough.
If you're thinking why isn't this a Federal Felony already? We can thank former Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, he blocked the measure from hitting the floor even after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the PACT Act TWICE! PACT earned 284 bipartisan House cosponsors and over 200 law enforcement endorsements. Fortunately Bob not so GOODlatte is no longer in Congress. This means we are much closer to making animal cruelty a federal felony. Do you support the PACT act?