House Passes Bill Banning "Crush" Videos

Earlier this year we published a blog item featuring a chilling and highly disturbing decision made by the United States Supreme Court. The Court ruled against the 1999 Federal Law, which prohibited the making, possession, sale and distribution of "Crush" videos and materials - depicting animals being tortured and killed.

The United States Supreme Court, in an overwhelming majority opined that the Federal law was unconstitutional in its wording, since it could possibly criminalize some aspects of freedom of speech.

While the dissenting United States Supreme Court Judges acknowledged that they were not supporting these violently pornographic materials, their hands were tied. They urged Congress to "tighten up" the wording of the law so that they would be able to more fairly rule to protect these animals.

In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Representatives Elton Gallegly (R-CA) and Gary Peters, D-MICH), introduced H.R. 5566 in the House of Representatives.

The bill received strong bi-partisan support, with 263 co-sponsors, resulting in its passage on Wednesday, July 21, 2010. The bill amends the Crush Act specifically to ban both the foreign and interstate commercial sales and distribution of materials depicting any form of animal torture.

Rep. Gallegly narrowly crafted the bill in consultation with constitutional scholars so its wording would not violate any First Amendment language.

Because both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass this bill, as of this writing, with Congress about to take their summer recess, the bill cannot be introduced to the Senate until their return in September.

Since the current federal legislative session ends on January 3, 2011, the Humane Societies and Animal Rights groups are asking folks to communicate with their Senators.

Share how urgently this bill needs to be passed to end the cruelty to which these animals are subjected in the making of this obscene and heartless material. Ask your senators to talk to their House colleagues about the bill and pledge their support in making the passage of H.R.5566 possible.

Thanks for taking action now! Your input is both extremely important and vital to this process.

Leave a comment with any relevant thoughts or suggestions that you will share with your representatives.

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