Texarkana Gazette: Pass a first-offense felony animal cruelty law

Today's editorial in the Texarkana Gazette urges passage of the same law Texas and 44 other states have: a first-offense felony option for prosecuting animal cruelty charges. We've had a couple of high-profile cases here locally that have raised interest in the legislation, one of which recently ended in a hung jury after a couple of the jurors held the view that animal cruelty is not possible because pets are personal property, and you can treat them as you please (which'll prompt a new line of voir dire in the next trial to be sure).

One fascinating thing about Arkansas politics is watching where the battle lines are drawn on different issues: here, they fall regionally and are apt to fall more along demographics than partisan lines, and the "tough on crime" advocates aren't jumping on this as they do for proposals to increase penalties for other offenses. The regional generalizations aren't always true, though -- look at Craighead County, where Dist. 74 Rep. Chris Thyer is opposed to it but Dist. 76 Rep. Ray Kidd and former Dist. 75 Rep. Dustin McDaniel are for it. For some legislators, it may come down to wording of the bill.

I recently mentioned the similar 2002 initiated act that failed statewide but was supported here in House District 1. The results are interesting: its popularity was in the 50's in most precincts that are high in minority population here (failed in a couple of them) and generally fared better in boxes that voted Republican for the contested races that year. It was defeated 3-1 in a couple of the delta counties, and the difference here to many may be the bill's narrowly drawn provisions.

Here's an excerpt of today's editorial:

The bill’s prospects in the 2009 session are far from certain. Gov. Mike Beebe is on record supporting a stronger animal cruelty law, but has not committed to Madison’s bill. And some question the bill’s language, saying that a hunter could be brought up on charges for “relishing” the kill.

The bill’s language may need work, but the intent does not. Arkansas needs a stronger animal cruelty law. Let’s hope lawmakers can work together to get one passed in the next session.