Texas Animal Cruelty Bill Spells Big Trouble!!!

[LifeNRA]

Texas Animal Cruelty Bill Spells Trouble for Sportsmen- (01/21)

Texas sportsmen should urge lawmakers to oppose legislation that will turn common hunting practices into criminal acts of animal cruelty.

House Bill 326, introduced by Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, amends the animal cruelty code to make it a crime for a person to “commit serious bodily injury to an animal” and redefines “animal” to include any nonhuman mammal, bird, or captive amphibian. The exemption for wild creatures that exists in the animal cruelty code would be removed.

“The vague definition will have huge ramifications for sportsmen,” said Tony Celebrezze, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of field services. “Any act of injury or death to an animal, even hunting or field trialing, will be construed as animal cruelty.”

Sportsmen were previously exempted from such animal cruelty laws when hunting, fishing or trapping. The exemption has also been removed. According to HB 326, sportsmen may be prosecuted and have to fight for their innocence in court. This can cost thousands of dollars.

Existing law sufficiently defines abuse and cruelty toward animals and recognizes and exempts hunting, fishing and trapping as common wildlife management practices. House Bill 326 would blur those lines and encourage prosecution of sportsmen.

Take Action! Texas sportsmen cannot allow this poorly written bill to pass. Contact your representative today and ask him or her to oppose the bill. Existing law already prevents animal cruelty. To contact your representative, call (512) 463-0845. Sportsmen can also find their legislators using the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org.

[buckee]

Sounds to me that the new bill would outlaw hunting...period.

[MadHuntinPastor]

Good grief!!

[wtnhunt]

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Sounds to me that the new bill would outlaw hunting...period.

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Sounds that way to me too.

[HuntingInMaine]

Get the word out Texans!!! Let everyone know EVERYTHING that is in this bill, because you know the people pushing this aren't going to tell everyone just how restrictive it really is. Maine just kicked the rears of a group like this that tried to do away with common bear hunting practices and I hope you do the same!

[Shaun_300]

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Sounds to me that the new bill would outlaw hunting...period.

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ditto buckee, thats what it sounds like to me too!

[carbonhunter]

Not only does it outlaw hunting but its sponsered by a republican.....hmmm

Better get on the stick down there. Dont you guys have a state amendment protecting hunting down there???
I thought texas did, if not ya may want to start looking into it.

[LifeNRA]

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Not only does it outlaw hunting but its sponsered by a republican.....hmmm

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See!!! There bad and bad in all politicians!!! This isnt a debate between dems and rebs!!! Texans get the word out!

Aaron this is why I post this stuff! NRA got this to me but a day late! Doesnt matter, I still feel the need to help get the word out!

[ParrotHead]

Ever hear a Texan talk about all the "Texas Heart Shots" that he's made? There are some hunters that would fall under the "animal cruelty" clauses however I'm sure the good out-weight the bad and this bill simply needs to be run out of the house - the sooner the better!

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Thanks for the "heads up". I'll get on it and find out what's happening. Don't think it will be too hard to derail something that's as poorly thought out as this piece of legislation. After all, we've got a huge beef and poultry industry here and I don't think they would be too happy to see something like that get enacted.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Well, it didn't take long for the poopy to hit the fan over this one! It has already been amended to exclude hunting, fishing, trapping and normal livestock uses:

SECTION 3. Section 42.09(h), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows:

(h) It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under an exception to the application of this section that the conduct engaged in by the actor is a generally accepted and otherwise lawful:

(1) use of an animal if that use occurs solely for the purpose of:

(A) fishing, hunting, or trapping; or

(B) wildlife control as regulated by state and federal law; or

(2) animal husbandry or farming practice involving livestock ; or

(3) activity to control common household vermin or rodents .

[OJR]

Why not just throw the whole blasted thing out! I could see down the line where if this thing passed, it could be amended and take out all sorts of critters that are legal now!

A state doesn't need laws like this or they should be specific for domestic pets and have nothing to do with any other animals!

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

I'm going to contact my state Representative and Senator and urge them to oppose it. I actually think the odds of it ever passing and becoming law are very slim.