By now, the details of Michael Vick’s indictment for dog fighting have been well-covered. And, since he has agreed to plead guilty, let’s reflect a bit on the offenses with which he has been charged.The Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition, found at 7 U.S. § 2156, prohibits knowingly sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture, as well as buying, selling, delivering, or transporting animals for participation in animal fighting venture.So, what exactly is an animal fighting venture? The Code defines this as a fight between at least two animals and is conducted for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment. However, an animal fighting venture does not include the use of one or more animals in hunting another animal or animals, such as waterfowl, bird, raccoon, or fox hunting.And, what is an animal? Not you or me, my friend. Animal means any live bird, or any live dog or any other mammal, except man.So, what lessons can one learn from Michael Vick’s misfortune?Fighting Fish. The title says animal fighting venture, but birds and mammals (except humans) is more accurate. Next time, if he must bet, toss two fighting fish into one tank.Release the Hounds. If Michael Vick had to see two pit bulls face off, he should have used one to hunt the other. Two pit bulls – bad. Two pit bulls, one horse, one hunter, one rifle – good. See, there’s no pit bull lobby in Washington. But, once you brandish a rifle with a pit bull, then it’s a Second Amendment issue. “I was just hunting with my pit bull and availing myself of my constitutional right to bear arms.”Planet of the Apes. You can’t pit two chimpanzees against each other, but two humans facing off in the ring is somehow acceptable? We can protect the gorillas and chimps, but we can’t even protect us from ourselves.Boxing Promoter. Michael Vick should have just been a boxing promoter. He could have done all the sponsoring and exhibiting he wanted, just not the messy execution of poor performers. He just picked the wrong animal to back, except we’re not animals.
Categories
3 replies on “Exceptions to the Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition”
By coming out with a statement that Vick should NOT be banned from the NFL for life, the NAACP just losty ALL its credibility with me. Siding with dogfighters this week, I fully expect them to “see the good” in crack dealers, drive-by shooters, child molesters and rapists next week. I anxiously anticipate the day I’ll be able to go see my first NAACP-sponsored snuff film. Yep, MLK had a dream, but THIS is a nightmare.
I certainly understand the importance of the concept of forgiveness and redemption. And, I can see how many see a lifetime ban from the NFL as a harsh sentence. The contention, though, that Michael Vick be “treated like any other person in the NFL” is part of the problem. Perhaps convicted felons should NOT be part of the NFL. Perhaps the Code of Conduct should be taken seriously. And, perhaps a man whose lifestyle–for 6 years–that depended upon animal abuse and torture, gambling on animal abuse and torture, and interstate commerce to propel that abuse and torture should not be permitted to play for NFL.
This creep and his buddies designed a way to electrocute sounded frightened dogs who were “failures”? Adolf Hitler would be proud. Michael Vick is his kind of man!!!!