Prohibition: Michigan pol seeks pit bull ban
History and research indicate it’s ill-advised, but Michigan is taking a look at giving prohibition another try, this time with pit bulls.
It would become illegal to keep a pit bull — and doing so could get you three months in prison — under a proposed bill in the state legislature.
Both frighteningly worded and frighteningly stupid, the bill was introduced Tuesday by Rep. Timothy Bledsoe.
House Bill 4714, aka the “Pit Bull Regulation and Prohibition Act,” would make breeding or selling a pit bull a crime one year after its passage. Four years after the bill’s passage, keeping an unsterilized pit bull would become a crime. Ten years after its passage, possessing a pit bull would be illegal.
Violating the pit bull law — either the restrictions or, in 10 years, the all out prohibition, would be a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days, community service for not more than 500 hours, or both. In addition, there would be a fine of $500 to $2,000.
The law doesn’t specify how authorities would relieve people of their pit bulls, or dispose of the dogs, but we’d assume — unless they have plans to establish concentration camps for them — it would be by lethal injection, or perhaps to be more cost-effective and efficient, a gas chamber.
As for a definition of pit bull — the type of dog not actually being a breed — the proposed restrictions and bans would apply to any one of the following:
(a) An American pit bull terrier
(b) An American Staffordshire bull terrier
(c) A Staffordshire bull terrier
(d) A dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any 1 or more of the breeds listed in subdivisions (a) to (c)
(e) A dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any 1 of the breeds listed in subdivisions (a) to (c)
In other words, if they don’t like the way you look, they can kill you.
We think that runs contrary to a civil society. We think that runs contrary to research on dangerous and vicious dogs. We think history proved prohibition doesn’t work.
Some jurisdictions that rushed to ban and restrict having pit bulls as pets are waking up to the error of their ways, Cleveland being one recent example.
Others keep outlawing, or trying to otherwise restrict them.
Prohibition didn’t work with alcohol, and it won’t work with pit bulls, because it’s not the booze — or the breed — that’s the problem. It’s the humans who misuse, abuse and take them to dangerous extremes.
Posted by jwoestendiek June 9th, 2011 under Muttsblog.
Tags: american, animals, ban, breed, breed-specific, bull, characteristics, conform, government, illegal, law, legislature, michigan, outlaw, pets, pit bulls, pitbulls, pits, pitties, prohibition, proposal, representative, staffordshire, terrier, tim bledsoe, timothy bledsoe, traits
Comments
Comment from Alison Renkema
Time June 9, 2011 at 10:58 am
Pit bull’s are amazing animals as long as you get them from the right string and treat them well, same as any other type of dog. It’s all about needing someone to blame or in this case, this type of dog. I live in Michigan, and I hope it gets thrown out as well.
Comment from debbie
Time June 9, 2011 at 11:45 am
We adopted Hunter ( a pit mix) from the shelter several years ago. He was the love of our lives. Didn’t have a visious bone in his body. He even liked cats! The shelter ‘advertised’ him as a retriever mix, on his PetFinder page, and to be honest, If I had known at the time that he was a pit mix I would have probably not adopted him, but oh.. what a wonderful experience I would have missed.
Hunter ( we called him Tor) was silly ( loved to play with socks), loyal, loving and loved to go on walks.In Oct of 09 Hunter was shot and Killed in the woods on our property ( we suspect a neighbor). We think about him everyday. …
It’s time to open minds, doors and give the light and peace a change..
We need to shift towards the light…
Comment from smitty
Time June 9, 2011 at 12:41 pm
What a pile of BULL**** .
Such legislation shows the nanny state is alive and well…though the same can’t be said of individual Liberty.
Comment from Cindy Beard
Time June 9, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Absolutely ridiculous. Pits are one of the smartest, most human friendly dogs that exist. Breed smarter people, stop blaming the dogs. I have mastiffs, are they next? BSL is STUPID.
Comment from Lore Dasse
Time June 9, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Glad i moved out of your shit hole state
Comment from Joey
Time June 9, 2011 at 1:37 pm
I have seen some disturbing pictures here on your blog, you should have warned us about this one; dumping good beer into a sewer!!! How horrific-
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time June 9, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if our elected legislators would actually inform themselves on a given subject before proposing legislation on a topic about which they obviously know absolutely nothing?
Hey, Rep. Bledsoe, we got this new invention called ‘The Internet’, check it out – it might help you research some of your ideas before making a complete fool of yourself next time. Here’s just one suggestion: http://www.thetruthaboutpitbulls.org/
Politicians (of all stripes) are like diapers, they should be changed regularly, and for the same reason.
Comment from EmilyS
Time June 9, 2011 at 7:55 pm
well, if he’s true to his word, the chair of the first committee that would hear the bill, won’t let it be so it’s dead, at least for now.
http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/06/unleashed_why_michigan_lawmake.html
Comment from Are you kidding me!!!!
Time June 10, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Its not the dogs fault its the owner. I hope this bill doesn’t work out because it bs banning a animal from a state because of stupid humans that dont know how to take care of these dogs and its just pure crap
Comment from crystal duncan
Time June 26, 2011 at 3:41 am
I own a pit bull he is 6 months old he is a big baby he loves my kids and my family .any dog can bite it is how a dog is raised and tooken care of.dont kill are dogs.I think this bill is stupid.
Comment from Richard Stokes
Time October 21, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Are you kidding me this bill is stupid and if the bill is passed it is like a Genesis of the pitbull breed. pitbulls are a very loving dog and it would be outrageous ban and then kill them. why kill a dog that is no more dangerous than a German Shepard. It isn’t the dogs fault, it is the owners fault for training the dog that way.
Comment from Rick Touhey
Time June 9, 2011 at 8:01 am
What a ridiculous bill. Our legislator need to be educated. Bully breeds such as those mentioned above get a bad rap. It’s not the dogs, it’s the bad owners that cause the problem. I don’t live in Michigan but do hope this bill gets thrown out.