FrankCBranchini Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Total posts: 7 Gender: Unknown |
 Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:22 pm
Post subject: Support Creation of an Animal Abuse Registry in MD |
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Maryland Votes for Animals is supporting legislation (SB 301/HB 1020) to create an Animal Abuse Registry in Maryland. People convicted of the most serious cases of animal abuse will be required to register with the sheriff of the county in which they live within 10 days of the conviction.
A hearing on SB 301 is scheduled in Annapolis before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee of the Maryland General Assembly on February 22 at 1 pm. The legislation sponsored by Senator Ronald Young (District 3, Frederick and Washington) was introduced in response to the senseless killing of a seven-month-old golden retriever puppy in Frederick County. The puppy, Heidi, was shot three times in the head while playing outside the house where she lived.
Delegate Barbara Frush (District 21, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s) is the chief sponsor of HB 1020, the companion bill in the House of Delegates.
Carolyn Kilborn, Chair of Maryland Votes for Animals, says, “Passage of this legislation is our top priority for the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Animal Abuse criminal convictions are a matter of public record, but there currently exists no centralized registry for this data. This legislation creates a centralized database in the ongoing effort to protect animals from abuse and Maryland families and communities from violence.”
An animal abuse registry will help prevent animal abuse recidivism. SB 301/HB 1020 will prevent convicted abusers from obtaining additional animals for a period of 5 years by prohibiting the sale/adoption of an animal to an abuser listed on the registry. Animal cruelty and dog-fighting incidents will be reduced if a convicted animal abuser cannot obtain another animal and repeat abusive criminal behavior.
Preventing crime saves communities and saves dollars. The gravity of animal cruelty is reflected in the physical suffering of the animals and the emotional toll on the humans touched by these crimes. There are also high monetary costs associated with violent crime. The Abuse Registry will raise awareness of the link between animal cruelty and human violence, and will aid police and communities in combating the cycle of violence. The Abuse Registry can directly or indirectly prevent crime and generate economic benefits by reducing crime-related costs (costs to victims, communities, society, and the criminal justice system).
SB 301/HB 1020, will help Stop Animal Abuse and Reduce Violent Crime in Maryland. For more than a quarter of a century, studies have shown a strong link between animal cruelty and violence against humans. It has been shown that animal abuse is a strong predictor of violent criminality. Intentional animal abuse can be one of the most visible parts of a history of aggressive or antisocial behavior, and is now recognized as part of the continuum of violence with serious implications for society. Law enforcement agencies utilize animal abuse data in profiling violent criminals and research has shown that those who abuse and kill animals are more likely to similarly abuse humans. Many of society’s most infamous serial killers and violent criminals initially target and abuse animals. It is critical for Maryland to interrupt the cycle of violence before it escalates or repeats. |
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