Rep. Steve King Defends the Right to Watch Dog Fighting

[scratchin dog]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/3...-dog-fighting/

Rep. Steve King defends the right to watch dog fighting

Iowa Rep. Steve King (R) is standing up for the rights of Americans who want to see dogs and others animals pitted against one another in fights that often result in the animals’ deaths.

During a tele-townhall event last week, King complained about an amendment to the farm bill that would criminalize attending organized animal fights and would impose additional penalties on people who bring children to the events.

“When the legislation that passed in the farm bill that says that it’s a federal crime to watch animals fight or to induce someone else to watch an animal fight but it’s not a federal crime to induce somebody to watch people fighting, there’s something wrong with the priorities of people that think like that,” the Iowa congressman said in a video of the event that was published on Tuesday.

Think Progress’ Scott Keyes pointed out that King’s claim that lawmakers were hypocritical for not banning human fights didn’t make sense because “animals don’t have a choice in the matter.”

“Manny Pacquiao chooses to step into the ring,” Keyes wrote. “Michael Vick’s dogs did not. Similarly, when a human boxer loses a fight, he is not ritually executed after the fight. The same is not always true in dogfighting.”

Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle earlier this month said that new legislation was necessary because of loopholes that allowed fight organizers to continue to profit even though federal laws had been strengthened in recent years.

“Spectators are participants and accomplices who enable the crime of animal fighting, make the enterprise profitable through admission fees and wagering, and help conceal and protect the handlers and organizers,” Pacelle explained in a statement. “Federal investigators who raid large-scale animal fighting operations may soon be able to prosecute the entire cast of characters who sustain dogfighting and cockfighting.”

Watch this video from Rep. Steve King, uploaded July 31, 2012.

[Officially Retired]

It's funny how simple logic is so rare these days ...

The dude has a big set of huevos to step up like that.

Also, animals of all kinds are killed for food, and even show dogs get culled for being "white," or having other defects, so what is the big deal about a bulldog getting culled for not being a bulldog?

Jack

[thefoodchain]

You know Ca Jack it would be great if he wasn't such a NUT.. Only if somebody with a record of thoughtful and land of the people,by the people for the people would say these things. But like you said took some acorns. I wouldn't say eggs but acorns.

[Strip]

Good post

[EWO]

Odds of someone in an elected office having the 'nads to say that out loud would get my vote. He may be a nut job on other issues but I like the way he thinks. EWO

[SteelyDan]

The FARM BILL.... Republican Rep. FROM IOWA!!! It would seen to me that the man in that video is trying to get the farm bill amended because of who backs his campaigns. I got no problem with that at all. The HSUS biggest enemy is the national and state Farm Bureaus. There is a ton of money and power in farming(it seems silly to say but its TRUE!). I remember when a similar bill was passed in California, the farm bureau or a similar group finally realized how bad the HSUS had been fucking them and started working to stop every bill the HSUS put forth from there forward and repeal all past bills. Farm bureaus have lobbyists, money, and they can swing big deals with people in power. They are our allies and one would be wise to report shady activity of the HSUS to them often. I have no doubt the Farm bureau is backing that man and i say MORE POWER TO HIM.


Just to put there money in perspective. When the Farm Bill was introduced in 2008 special interest farm groups spent $173.5mil on lobbyists.

[ragedog10]

Its refreshing to see someone use common sense for once. The HSUS to me are a bunch of mentally ill people who enjoy killing animals and say they have saved them if people would just think, its plain as day them folks are a bunch of wack jobs.

[Bulldogstalker]

So it's now a federal offense to be at a cock/dog fight correct? What federal punishment is enforced with this?