Thanks to State Senator Tom Leek for his leadership. First, he beat corrupt Sheriff DAVID SHOAR, who legally changed his name from "HOAR"in 1994. I appreciate his leadership, most recently on animal cruelty, From St. Augustine Record:
Daytona Beach senator files legislation to toughen animal-cruelty penalties, post violators' names
Florida Bills propose stricter punishments on those convicted of animal cruelty
- Florida Senate Bill 502 increases the penalties for animal cruelty convictions.
- The proposed legislation would increase the sentencing guidelines for offenders under the Florida Criminal Punishment Code.
- A second bill, Florida Senate Bill 494, would require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to publish a list of animal cruelty offenders on its website.
State Sen. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, has filed legislation that stiffens the criminal penalties for animal cruelty and requires state law enforcement to publish names of offenders on a public website.
According to a news release, Senate Bill 502 states that anyone convicted of animal cruelty toward a domestic animal as a primary offense will have the "subtotal sentence points multiplied by 1.25 under the Florida Criminal Punishment Code.”
“Abuse against helpless animals is one of the most heinous acts and punishment for a perpetrator should be swift and severe,” he said. “I am proud to continue my work in addressing animal cruelty in the state of Florida by strengthening penalties for those who prey upon domestic animals.”
Leek also filed Senate Bill 494, which requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to publish on its website a list of animal-cruelty offenders.
“Most notably, such access is critical to animal adoption organizations to ensure that perpetrators are disqualified as recipients of animals seeking placement,” Leek said.
Leek is no stranger to animal cruelty legislation. In 2018, he served as the prime sponsor of House Bill 473, known as Ponce’s Law, while serving in the Florida House of Representatives. Ponce, a 9-month-old Labrador retriever puppy, was found beaten to death in Ponce Inlet. While the House bill stalled, a companion Senate bill eventually passed both chambers and was signed by the governor. Among other things, the legislation revised classifications of certain animal-cruelty offences and authorized courts to prohibit violators from owning animals.
Debbie Darino, president and founder of The Ponce Animal Foundation Inc., said both bills give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves.
“Thank you to Sen. Tom Leek for filing Senate Bill 502 and Senate Bill 494 which will further advance our shared mission in giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves," Darino said in a prepared statement. "This legislation will rightfully increase punishment to those who dare to mistreat our beloved animals.”
1 comment:
Public shaming and lifetime labels is something you'd find in some Calvinist dystopia... not something you'd find in a nation that wishes to progress in the area of human rights, civil liberties, and social justice. They do their time, they shouldn't be any less of a citizen than someone else...or be subjected to discrimination set in motion by the state or some other entity that doesn't respect human dignity. Such actions even go further than eye for an eye. Forever punishment isn't really justice and serves no good purpose but revenge and permanent class demotion. The state can't expect society to be any different if they themselves show no mercy or rationality.
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