Should we intensify our laws against animal cruelty?

Crime and Law Enforcement (e.g., Gun Laws)
PACT Act (H.R. 724)
This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

Should we intensify our laws against animal cruelty? The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT) makes the intentional maiming of an animal illegal with potential penalties of fines and up to 7 years in prison. The bill further makes it illegal to film or photograph the purposeful harming of an animal as well as disallowing the distribution of that media. This amends the current laws in Section 48 of title 18 in the United States Code that penalizes the creation, sale, or possession of depiction of animal cruelty with fines and up to 5 years in prison. Additionally, this bill would further criminalize the acts of cruelty themselves instead of just the creation or distribution of cruel content. Sponsor: Representative Theodore Deutch (Democrat, Florida, District 22)
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Opponents say

• As of the time of this writing, there is no known opposition to this bill.

Proponents say

• “Federal law already prohibits animal fighting, as well as the creation and trade in obscene video depictions of animals being crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or subjected to other forms of egregious cruelty—but the underlying cruelty itself is not banned. The PACT Act will create a federal anti-cruelty statute that complements the cruelty laws in the 50 states.” - The Humane Society of the United States
• “For many Americans, animal welfare is an important policy issue, and the idea of animal abuse is abhorrent. By building on state and local laws, Congress should act to guarantee a level of protection for animals across the country by criminalizing these inhumane acts. We've acted in the past to stop the horrific trend of animal abuse videos; now it's time to make the underlying acts of cruelty a crime as well.” - Rep. Deutch (D, FL-22)
• The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Protecting animals from cruelty is a top priority for me and I look forward to working with Congressman Deutch on this important issue.” -Rep. Buchanan (R, FL-16)
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