An effort to toughen penalties for animal abuse — and domestic abuse — wasblocked in the state house yesterday. The Iowa House voted to increasepenalties for animal abuse — AND domestic abuse, but the bill was blockedfrom moving forward in this session by a parliamentary procedure. Those found guilty of killing, maiming or torturing an animal would spent upto five years in prison under the bill. But a group of women legislatorspushed to boost the penalties for domestic abuse, so a first-time domesticabuser would spend the same amount of time in jail as a first-time catkiller. Representative Mary Mascher, a democrat from Iowa City, said today,a first-time domestic abuser is guilty of just a simple misdemeanor, whichbrings a month in jail or a fine.Representative Teresa Garman, a republican from Ames, said the bill was an”over-reaction” to incidents of animal abuse.Representative Rebecca Knight, a democrat from Bonaparte, representsFairfield, the site of the massacre of 23 cats at an animal shelter, anevent which spawned the bill. Knight says it is a very serious problem andthe cycle of abuse in society needs to be broken.Representative Galen Davis, a republican from Ottumwa, said abuse of animalsis a “red flag” for other types of violent behavior. He says some victims ofdomestic violence say things started with the hitting or killing of the family pet.
SEARCH THIS SITE
RECENT NEWS
- Students get a look at Air National Guard jobs in Sioux City
- Speaker says House GOP to seek UI, ISU, UNI tuition caps
- Supreme Court rules in favor of UI in Children’s Hospital construction dispute
- Law lets police check for minors inside vape shops, tobacco retailers
- Singer with ‘Iowa roots’ has dual role in Michael Jackson musical (AUDIO)