Deadly Weapons

"Washington Appeals Court Says Pit Bull Dog is a Deadly Weapon".

This is the headline (and lead sentence) in the headline from the Tacoma Olympian.  Sounds like pit bulls are pretty dangerous doesn't it?

The Columbian Newspaper, in Clark County Washington uses the headline "Judge Says Pit Bulls are Deadly weapons".

The Columbian goes on to say that "It could be an especially important ruling for owners of pit bulls, a mixed breed whose surging popularity since the mid-1990s has led many puppies to be taken from their mothers before developing crucial social skills". 

However, if you read further in the story, all the way down to paragraph seven, it turns out that:

The decision didn't specify a legal difference between pit bulls or any other breed, and experts say all dogs can be dangerous if mistreated or trained to attack.

So, basically, the ruling was that ANY dog that attacks can be deemed to be a dangerous weapon.  Not just pit bulls.

You have to do a lot of reading in order to get that from the headlines though...further perpetuating the myth of pit bulls being dangerous. 

Special thanks to Marjorie for passing these stories along.

Comments

[Caveat]

Steve had a good post on this yesterday:

http://chicobandido.blogspot.com/2007/06/newspaper-headlines-how-to-lie-and-get.html

[Mark]

As long as people like Vick use pit bulls as killing machines, calling a pit bull a deadly weapon will help reign in dog fighting. I have gave up my life running a dog sanctury. I am willing to give up a couple more rights to protect the dogs we all love!!!