TRENTON, NJ –-(Ammoland.com)- Do you own a pet? Do you live in NJ?
NJOA CF council member National Animal Interest Alliance tells us it’s time to pay attention.
National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) is not an “animal rights” organization; instead its focus is ensuring “animal welfare” and the proper treatment of animals, something all sportsmen and women can support.
The mission of NAIA is to promote the welfare of animals, to strengthen the human-animal bond, and safeguard the rights of responsible animal owners.
NAIA closely monitors bills that may negatively impact pet ownership, including pets used by sportsmen and women for field and water related activities. NAIA suggests that we pay special attention to anti-pet ownership bills being sponsored in Trenton.
According to Barb Reichman, NAIA representative to the NJOA CF, “A few New Jersey legislators have been busy trying to pass bills that would interfere with ownership and possession of our animals. Currently, there are twenty-nine bills targeting animal cruelty. On the surface these bills may seem to be reasonable, but they are being promoted by animal rights organizations, and vague wording may negatively impact pet ownership, including those owned by sportsmen and women.”
Reichman states, “Bill A2694 is designed to change the definition of cruelty to include, `failure to provide minimum care`. While I’m sure that we all agree that animals should be well cared for, this provision might allow something as simple as an empty water bowl to be construed as cruelty. One can only imagine what could be claimed should a hunter end a day of rabbit hunting with a beagle having bloodied ears from tracking through thorns and thicket. Plus, payment of any fine is acceptance of one’s guilt, which has additional ramifications.”
Ms. Reichman pointed out that guilt could take away a person’s choice to own animals. Examples are found in bills A1933/S580, which would make it illegal for a person found guilty or civilly liable to own another animal in NJ. The bills also set up an animal abuser’s registry.
Another bill, A3303 (known as Moose’s Law and already been passed by the Assembly) makes it illegal for animal related businesses to employ a person found guilty of cruelty. The bill also makes it illegal for the violator to own an animal for at least two years and requires an animal abuser registry, which is made available for public inspection on the internet.
Reichman comments, “Pretty tough penalty for an empty water bowl”.
Also on the docket are bills S2374/A3557 which provide that a person accused of animal cruelty pay a seizure bond up front or lose their animals. Neither bill has any method for restitution if a person is found NOT guilty.
Reichman said, “It used to be that a person is innocent until proven guilty, but it seems that the US Constitution can be easily dispensed with in New Jersey.” She continued, “Fortunately, for those living in Kentucky, a US District Court determined a similar seizure bond was unconstitutional”. (See 3:07-cv-00230-CRS).
Reichman detailed bills that revise animal cruelty statutes such as S928/A2039, bills that are against cruel restraint (including tethering for any amount of time on a lead less than 15′) S1497, S209, and S2360/A3554, and several imposing additional penalties including bills A3900, A3903, A3904, and A3905. Of these bills, seven mandate mental health treatment for a person found guilty or being civilly liable.
Animal rights organizations and activists are promoting broadly worded legislation that threaten pet related businesses, pet ownership, and the activities of sportsmen and women in the field and waters.
It’s time to pay attention.
(Note: To learn more about these Bills, go to the link that follows and insert the Bill number provided in the above information alert).
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
Sr. Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: “We’ve got your back!”
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About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earths resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org