New York Times, the ACLU, and the NRA Form Unholy Alliance – Turn Their Back on Animal Cruelty

Thank goodness that the Obama Administration has the common sense to support the ban on videos that display animal cruelty.   At issue is US v. Stevens – a case recently heard by the US Supreme Court – to determine if the law passed by the Congress in 1999 banning the creation, sale, or possession of any depiction of animal cruelty with the intent to distribute and sell is constitutionally sound.  The Obama Administration advocated in favor of the ban and reducing violence.

The specifics of US v. Stevens focus on dog fighting, where dogs literally fight until one is dead. According to the video producer, Bob Stevens, the video depiction of dogs ripping each other to pieces is free speech and has no influence on encouraging violent behaviors.  Stevens and those that support his position, like the New York Times, the ACLU, and the NRA, believe they have no responsibility for the animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence that may result from dog fighting videos. Never mind how violence develops and is encouraged throughout society, these organizations believe that videos depicting dog fighting is protected by the first amendment.  

However, if you ask any law enforcement officer, they will tell you that violence is a system-wide problem and that the media and entertainment industry have a major influence on violent behaviors.   Further, the FBI and similar enforcement agencies have known for a long time that animal abuse is a strong predictor for violence towards humans.  As a result, the effort to allow videos of animal abuse to be sold for a profit under the guise of the first amendment is cultural relativism run amuck.   

For the Southwest Institute for ViolenceFree Learning (SWIVL), violence is as much a state of mind as it is a specific behavior.   Horrific crimes, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and animal cruelty do not happen in a vacuum.  To suggest that videos, movies, news, books, etc., do not influence violent behaviors is to deny reality and solid evidence. Those that commit violent behaviors often have a vicarious experience by viewing or reading about violence and like a drug, violence is seductive.

Freedom of speech has limitations and should first of all be based on common sense. We all know you cannot yell fire in a movie house and you shouldn’t be able to exploit animal cruelty and abuse for profit.