LCA Last Chance for
Animals
June 2018
Great news for animals from Sacramento! On May 30th SB-1024, the Animal Welfare and Violence Intervention Act of 2018, passed unanimously in the California Senate. Recognizing the link between violence against animals and violence against humans, this landmark bill will give California judges the power to order mental health evaluations as part of a sentence for animal abuse – in addition to fines and jail time. As this common sense bill heads to the State Assembly, the animals need you to tell your representatives that you expect them to make it law.
Mental health experts and law enforcement officials have long understood
that those who commit acts of violence toward animals will one day hurt
humans. LCA has sounded the alarm on this issue for years. In 2016 the FBI
created the National Incident Based Reporting System to track incidents of
animal cruelty on a federal level, alongside “Group A” crimes like arson,
rape and murder. LCA has worked with state and federal official to ensure
that they participate in the database by reporting these crimes. Federal
mechanisms like NBIRS [National
Incident-Based Reporting System] and state laws like SB-1024 [Animal
abuse: responsible animal owner course: mandatory counseling] create
strong legal tools to fight animal abuse, and to put those who would commit
acts of violence against animals on law enforcement’s radar. [Please also
read
The FBI Animal Cruelty Database.]
SB-1024 is no-nonsense legislation that will protect animals and humans from
violence. In these sad, violent times, Californians need to do everything we
can to protect our loved ones – whether they have four legs or two. The
Senate Committee for Public Safety is the next stop for SB-1024, and the
Committee members need to hear from you.
Thank you for everything you do for animals!
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