[118542] in Cypherpunks
And So It Begins
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Eric Cordian)
Fri Oct 1 13:45:31 1999
From: Eric Cordian <emc@chao.insync.net>
Message-Id: <199910011715.MAA76838@chao.insync.net>
To: cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 10:15:08 -0700 (PDT)
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Reply-To: Eric Cordian <emc@chao.insync.net>
Once the camel's nose is into the tent, the rest of the camel is sure to
follow. Looks like animal cruelty will be next in line in the ever
expanding list of things it is illegal to create, sell, or possess.
No doubt Hatch and Feinstein will want to expand the law to cover
computer-generated depictions of animal cruelty, in which there were no
actual animal victims.
Al Franken, watch out. We all remember what you did to those defenseless
little cockroaches on Saturday Night Live. :)
-----
WASHINGTON (AP) --Federal lawmakers and activists are advocating criminal
penalties for people who sell videos depicting cruelty to animals.
Prosecution under local animal cruelty laws is rare because of the
difficulties identifying individuals who make and appear in such videos.
Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., has proposed legislation that would enable
federal prosecutors to target people who market the films by making it
illegal to create, sell or possess any depiction of animals being treated
cruelly for commercial purposes. Violators could get up to five years in
prison.
``It's beyond horror, it's evil,'' actress Loretta Swit, who represented
Actors and Others for Animals and the Humane Society, told the House
Judiciary Committee's crime panel on Thursday.
The panel viewed a ``crush video'' -- part of what witnesses called a
multimillion-dollar, worldwide industry -- that showed a woman stomping a
guinea pig to death. A half-dozen people walked out of the hearing as it
played, while others blocked their ears from the animal's squeals.
``In all my years of pushing legislation to protect animals, this is
clearly one of the sickest forms of animal cruelty I have ever heard of,''
Gallegly said.
More than 2,000 titles of ``crush videos'' are available, selling for $30
to $100 each, Gallegly said, adding: ``This windfall must end.''
Critics contend the bill would violate the First Amendment's guarantee of
free speech. They say it is so broad it could allow prosecution of those
who make legitimate animal documentaries and even distributors of news
magazines that contain pictures of bullfights.
Gallegly said he would offer amendments to exempt educational or artistic
works such as films of bullfights.
Rep. Robert Scott, D-Va., questioned how local authorities would know to
enforce the law if the videos were shot in other states or countries.
Tom Connors, deputy district attorney in Ventura County, Calif., said the
bill would work the same as prohibitions against the possession or sale of
child pornography.
--
Eric Michael Cordian 0+
O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division
"Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"
