Republican, Democrat, Team Up to Protect Animals From Torture - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!
December 16, 2017

To Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and co-sponsor U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn)  for re-introducing the Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT Act) to the U.S. Senate.

According to a recent news article, the bipartisan PACT Act, which was introduced in March, is making it’s way through the U.S. Congress. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican and co-sponsored by Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, would ban the torturing of animals to death for the purpose of creating “crush videos.”  “Crush videos” defy belief to any moral person. The videos typically portray a woman killing living creatures, typically by impact, but the bill also bans the burning, drowning, suffocating, and impaling of any mammal, bird, or insect.

The bill would close a loophole in a 2010 law passed by Congress that banned the sale of videos depicting animal crushing. While this was an important law, it failed to make the creation of the videos a federal crime. If passed, violators of the law could face a felony conviction punishable by up to seven years in prison. The bill has received the support of the National Sheriffs Association, Fraternal Order of Police and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

NHES last wrote about The PACT Act in December 2016, but the bill died in the House during the previous legislative session.

Take action. Contact your U.S. representatives and urge them to support The PACT Act!

Sample Letter

Re: Pass the PACT Act

Dear Representative [Last Name],

My name is [Your Name] and I am writing to urge you to support the Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT Act). It is abhorrent that any creator of “crush videos” and their ilk could go unpunished for the atrocities they commit against animals, and the trauma they may cause to young viewers unfortunate enough to witness such a terrible act.  Please support legislation to protect animals and a decent society.

Respectfully,

{Your Name}