Mississippi is the fattest state. Mississippi is considered the poorest state. Mississippi is ranked as the third “stupidest” state in the country. Mississippi has the highest teen pregnancy rate. I have heard similar statistics for as long as I can remember, so they don’t give me much pause nowadays. However, I was stunned when I was informed Mississippi’s animal protection laws are the fifth worst in the U.S. I know Mississippi isn’t home to PETA headquarters, but I assumed Mississippi’s laws were sufficient. I was wrong.
Michael Vick still wouldn’t be able to dogfight in Mississippi without racking up felony charges. But if he decided to start an underground bear (or any other animal) fighting club, he would only be guilty of a misdemeanor. What makes a dog different from a bear, chicken or cat? All animals should be equally protected. If someone is convicted of dogfighting he can be fined no less than $500 but no more than $5000; if the same person is convicted of bear fighting he can be fined no less than $10 but no more than $100.
People in Mississippi who cruelly confine or transport animals or deprive them of food or water only face misdemeanor charges. The maximum time spent in jail for this misdemeanor is six months.
Recently in Canton, Alonzo Esco, an animal control officer, was accused of killing over 100 animals for no logical reason. He has not been
formerly charged with anything, however prosecutors working on the case have only found evidence of misdemeanors.
Over 100 dead dogs and cats – some were to be adopted – equals six months in jail? A public official abuses his power and at most gets only six months behind bars? Even people who don’t own pets should be sickened by this. Though Esco was able to lawfully kill animals if they were maimed or were a danger, it seems this was a man using his job for his own twisted purposes.
Heinous crimes against innocent animals aside, there are other reasons to have greater consequences for these crimes. Animal abuse has been shown not to only affect the animals but people as well. Torturing animals has at times been a sign of the violent nature for teenagers who later participate in school shootings, murders, vandalism and domestic violence.
I know the legislature has other immediate problems to deal with but animal abuse is not going away. To prevent and better punish these offenses, the state needs to consider stronger animal rights’ laws. If the legislature continues to delay discussing these laws for more “important” items, cases like Esco’s will be handled in the same way.
“Let the punishment fit the crime” is an old saying which applies here. I seriously doubt anyone will truly be dissuaded from hurting animals because of the misdemeanor consequences. However, punishments for felonies are harsher but not ridiculous.
Think of your pet and how you would feel if harm befell them. Pets become integral parts of our lives and deserve to be protected as living creatures. It is unacceptable to continue to allow the animals both in and out of our care to be so vulnerable. This is something changeable and we should petition for it to be changed.
Hannah Rogers is the entertainment editor of The Reflector. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Categories:
Animal cruelty laws insufficient
Hannah Rogers
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January 22, 2010
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