Following up on a story we posted yesterday, Michael Vick endorsed a federal bill on Capitol Hill today that would make it a crime to attend organized animal fights, including dogfighting and cockfighting.
The bill, titled H.R. 2492, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, was introduced as bipartisan legislation last week by U.S. Reps. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio).
“Too many kids get involved in dogfighting, and it’s time to break this cycle. Animal fighting is a dead-end road for the young men, and there’s nothing but terrible outcomes for the dogs placed in a pit to fight,” Vick told Congress. “Since my case came to light, the laws against animal fighting have been upgraded, and here’s another opportunity to strengthen the law and establish an even stronger deterrent.”
It is illegal in 49 states to be a willing spectator at an animal fight. Twenty-eight states impose felony-level penalties. If passed, this bill would impose federal misdemeanor penalties for knowing attendance and felony penalties for causing a minor to attend.
