PA. House's Refusal to Ban Eating of Kittens and Puppies Featured on Colbert Report

[JPZenger]

Last edited Fri Oct 31, 2014, 02:29 PM - Edit history (8)

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/stephen-colbert-butchers-the-nra-for-killing-bill-that-banned-the-eating-of-puppies-and-kittens/

We're famous, but for all the wrong reasons.

Here's links to more facts of the bill. There have been many efforts over many years to ban the mass shooting of thousands of pigeons for fun at events, right after they are released from boxes, which are located a few yards from many shooters. That is definitely not hunting as a sport. The bill would have included that prohibition.

The bill also addresses a problem with certain Asian communities in PA raising dogs for food. The Humane Society found that occurring in PA, but could not prosecute because there was no law in PA. on the matter.

The bill passed the State Senate by a bi-partisan 3 to 1 margin, but was stopped in a State House Committee by the Republican leadership and a NRA lobbyist, and was not allowed to be brought up for a vote.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10746234

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wayne-pacelle/live-pigeon-shoots-the-sh_b_5544712.html
---
Update: The Repub Majority Leader and all Republican members of the Committee that killed the pigeon shooting bill received campaign contributions from a pro-pigeon shooting group 3 days before the bill was killed.

http://www.mcall.com/opinion/white/blog/mc-stephen-colbert-on-eating-dogs-20141030-column.html

What bothers me even more than people buying our Government, is that you can buy it relatively cheaply.

(By the way, it is a little known fact that PA. campaign contributions made in the days right before an election must be instantly posted on the Pa. Dept. of State website. If you look at that list for the large last-minute donors to Corbett, you will see the usual assortment of quarry owners, landfill owners, gas industry suppliers and shopping center developers).

[NYC_SKP]

1. Because I don't want my progressive friends to make fools of themselves, some non-reddit truth:

Never heard of this bill but I wanted to search for some facts.

Google hits go to reddit, colbert, motherjones for the typical overblown and, TBH, lies about what the bill is and isn't about.

It's not about dogs or cats, it's about pigeons.

My grandmother liked doves, her mother loved sparrows. I would never eat a pigeon, not a city pigeon, but they are out in the country too, and I've probably eaten them myself as a kid.

Here's a "not sarcasm" link to a story: http://www.abc27.com/story/26834835/pigeon-shoots-gun-rights-decided-on-legislatures-final-day

And another: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/House-battle-over-live-pigeon-shoots-goes-down-to-the-wire-NRA-prevails.html

In this case, it looks like the Humane Society versus people who like to shoot pigeons "for sport".

I support the ban, organized shootings, unless the birds are collected and eaten, are inhumane and cruel and even sportfolks and hunters oppose this sort of thing.

Cats and dogs have nothing to do with it, except that the bill was revised to include them along with pigeons in an apparent attempt to make it easier to get votes in support of the ban.

SECTION 1. SECTION 5511(Q) OF TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING DEFINITIONS AND THE
SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING SUBSECTIONS TO READ:
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.
* * *
(c.1) Prohibition of activities related to dogs and cats.--
(1) A person commits an offense if the person does any
of the following:
(i) Kills a dog or cat, regardless of ownership of
the animal, for the purpose of human consumption.
(ii) Processes dog or cat meat for the purpose of
human consumption.
(iii) Breeds, keeps, sells, offers for sale or
transfers a dog or cat for the purpose of human
consumption.

So, naturally, to go out there and say that the NRA or anyone else is in favor of the consumption of cats or dogs should be embarrassing for the person saying it.

Unless you're Colbert. Then it's funny.

[MH1]

3. Who's making a fool of themselves, Skippy?

Check out the actual bill, HB1750

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2013&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1750

Be sure to read the FIRST version.

1Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of
3cruelty to animals.
4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:
6Section 1. Section 5511 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
8§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.
9* * *
10(c.1) Prohibition of activities related to dogs and cats.--
11(1) A person commits an offense if the person does any
12of the following:
13(i) Kills a dog or cat, regardless of ownership of
14the animal, for the purpose of human consumption.
15(ii) Processes dog or cat meat for the purpose of
20130HB1750PN2485 -1-

1human consumption.
2(iii) Breeds, keeps, sells, offers for sale or
3transfers a dog or cat for the purpose of human
4consumption.
5(iv) Offers dog or cat meat for human consumption.
6(2) Except as set forth in paragraph (3), a person that
7violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first
8degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
9of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 or to
10imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
11(3) A person who, after being sentenced under paragraph
12(2), violates this subsection commits a felony of the third
13degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
14of not less than $2,500 nor more than $15,000 or to
15imprisonment for not more than seven years, or both.
16* * *
17Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20130HB1750PN2485 -2-

Now read the FINAL version of the bill (indicated by the red asterisk at the link I gave):

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and
3related offenses, further providing for the offense of
4cruelty to animals.
5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:
<-7Section 1. Section 5511 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
8Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
<-9SECTION 1. SECTION 5511(Q) OF TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
10CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING DEFINITIONS AND THE
11SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING SUBSECTIONS TO READ:
12§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.
13* * *
14(c.1) Prohibition of activities related to dogs and cats.--
15(1) A person commits an offense if the person does any
20130HB1750PN3859 -1-

1of the following:
2(i) Kills a dog or cat, regardless of ownership of
3the animal, for the purpose of human consumption.
4(ii) Processes dog or cat meat for the purpose of
5human consumption.
6(iii) Breeds, keeps, sells, offers for sale or
7transfers a dog or cat for the purpose of human
8consumption.
9(iv) Offers dog or cat meat for human consumption.
10(2) Except as set forth in paragraph (3), a person who
11violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first
12degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
13of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 or to
14imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
15(3) A person who violates this subsection and who has
16committed a prior offense commits a felony of the third
17degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
18of not less than $2,500 nor more than $15,000 or to
19imprisonment for not more than seven years, or both. As used
20in this paragraph, the term "prior offense" shall mean a
21conviction, adjudication of delinquency, acceptance of
22Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or other form of
23preliminary disposition, occurring before the sentencing on
24the present violation, for any of the following:
25(i) an offense under this subsection; or
26(ii) an offense substantially similar to an offense
27under this subsection, including an offense under a prior
28law of this Commonwealth or an offense under a law of
29another jurisdiction.
<-30* * *
20130HB1750PN3859 -2-

<-1(C.2) USE OF DOGS, CATS OR OTHER LIVE ANIMALS OR FOWL FOR
2TARGETS AT TRAP SHOOT OR BLOCK SHOOT PROHIBITED.--
3(1) A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF THAT PERSON
4OPERATES A TRAP SHOOT OR BLOCK SHOOT IN WHICH DOGS, CATS OR
5OTHER LIVE ANIMALS OR FOWL ARE USED AS TARGETS.
6(2) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO
7APPLY TO ACTIVITY WHICH IS AUTHORIZED OR PERMITTED UNDER 34
8PA.C.S. (RELATING TO GAME) OR A SPECIAL PERMIT UNDER 58 PA.
9CODE CH. 147 (RELATING TO SPECIAL PERMITS).
10* * *
11(Q) DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING
12WORDS AND PHRASES SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS
13SUBSECTION:
14* * *
15"BLOCK SHOOT." AN EVENT DURING WHICH PARTICIPANTS SHOOT OR
16ATTEMPT TO SHOOT TARGETS WHICH:
17(1) FROM A FIXED LOCATION WITHIN A PREDEFINED SHOOTING
18FIELD, ARE MANUALLY OR WITH ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL
19ASSISTANCE LAUNCHED OR OTHERWISE IMMEDIATELY PRESENTED TO THE
20SHOOTER; OR
21(2) WHEN PRESENTED TO THE SHOOTER, ARE:
22(I) AFFIXED TO A TETHERING DEVICE; OR
23(II) OTHERWISE IMPAIRED FROM ORDINARY MOVEMENT.
24* * *
25"FOWL." A BIRD, AS DEFINED IN 34 PA.C.S. § 102 (RELATING TO
26DEFINITIONS). THE TERM EXCLUDES A GAME BIRD.
27"GAME BIRD." AS DEFINED IN 34 PA.C.S. § 102 (RELATING TO
28DEFINITIONS).
29* * *
30"TRAP SHOOT." A BLOCK SHOOT.
20130HB1750PN3859 -3-

1* * *
2Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20130HB1750PN3859 -4-

The pigeon shoot thing was added as an amendment. But it is STILL about cats and dogs.

So, why do you say, "It's not about dogs or cats, it's about pigeons. "?

Because in your research you couldn't bother to actually read the bill? (Hey maybe you should run for Congress.)

(Also re: copyright, as I am posting the publicly available text of a bill only, I'm pretty sure the 4 paragraph rule doesn't apply. Just in case someone thinks it does.)

Oh and in case the actual text of the bill doesn't matter to you, this is from one of your own links:

In fact, the Pennsylvania SPCA in the last five years, raided Asian-run kennels in Philadelphia raising Jindo dogs for consumption, but were unable to prosecute because there is no law against eating dog meat. (A Jindo dog rescued from a meat market in South Korea was on hand to help lobby for the bill on Monday.) Irwin wrote to Cox and others that a furrier in Bucks County had advertised that he would purchase pelts of "house cats" on his price list.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/House-battle-over-live-pigeon-shoots-goes-down-to-the-wire-NRA-prevails.html#MOL8tR6rF1FaITCx.99

And, all that said, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG with banning the cruel practice of pigeon shoots? Fuck the NRA and all the politicians in their fucking pockets.

[Number9Dream]

5. Thank you, MH1

Late to the thread (don't do the internet on weekends), but just wanted to thank you for the well researched reply.

[MH1]

6. You're welcome, this one really grabbed my attention, long before Skippy's post.

Oh and get this - my local PA state house crony, who took money from the NRA, has a robocall out today trying to pretend he is in favor of "sensible gun control" like universal background checks.

[packman]

2. Obviously aimed at ethnic foods

Remember that famous story about the reporter who just arrived in Viet Nam back then seeing the North Vietnamese soldier on the road with dogs on leashes. Remarking to his adviser that it was heartwarming to see the soldiers taking their pets into battle, the adviser said, "Sir, that is their lunch."

What is anathema to us in the home of processed poultry, cows and pigs is considered everyday fare in other countries. I know I was disturbed and disgusted to see a group of Australian Bushmen corner, kill and eat a desert cat .

As for the pigeon shoot, what REALLY disturbed me - of course the shoot itself was number one - was that young boys and girls would go out and stomp and kill the birds not killed by the assholes blasting away at them.

[MH1]

4. Yeah, the kicker for me was the same thing you mentioned.

As for the pigeon shoot, what REALLY disturbed me - of course the shoot itself was number one - was that young boys and girls would go out and stomp and kill the birds not killed by the assholes blasting away at them.

What a terrible way to raise a child. No wonder there are so many cruel adults in our society.