You don't need facts to have an opinion

Ok, I'm breaking a promise about today's topic following an editorial that ran in last night's Independence Examiner.  I'm going to put the editorial out there, in its entirety, and add a few comments along the way (Mine are in blue).

Progress on dog attacks

Enforce the rules

The horrific pit bull attacks on three men on a pleasant May evening a year ago sparked a long overdue conversation in Independence. A year later, it seems the situation has improved.

In this space, we were skeptical that City Hall could or would take significant action. The city had been down this road before, most significantly in 1987, but in the end didn't take serious steps to protect people from vicious dog attacks.

But the May 4, 2006, attacks and later incidents kept the issue in full public view. A year later, the city hasn't banned pit bulls, but it's illegal to bring new ones into the city. (So it's basically a ban, they just didn't take people's animals away). Almost 400 are registered with the city, and more than 150 illegal animals have been relocated or destroyed. In a few years, in theory, the city will be free of pit bulls. (It has not come even close to working in any other city that has tried it, including Kansas City, KS locally). Even those that remain must be muzzled when out on a leash and must be kept in sturdy pens otherwise.

This will cut down on bites and attacks, but it won't entirely prevent them. For one thing, pit bulls aren't the only culprit. Other dogs bite, and that has more to do with how owners treat their animals - whether a poodle or a pit bull - than anything else. (So, if it has more to do with how owners treat their animals, why are we advocating this ordinance?)

The community is safer, (based on what?  Why can't we have actual statistics to back up the claim, every other city that has imposed BSL has actually become LESS safe). thanks to the city's actions. And we'll say this part again: The key is consistent enforcement of the law. (Which would prevent almost all attacks, even without the BSL).

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What's even more frustrating about this is that no law, NOTHING could have prevented the attack on Alan Hill.  When a man takes dogs that are hungry, and known to be dangerous, and turns them loose to "see what would happen" -- you can't make laws for that.  And yet, people are advocating this horrible legislation. 

Comments

[Cheryl]

Additionally Alan Hill and his family have now been elevated to the position of animal behavior experts. The Hill family has even been consulted on city ordinances concerning public safety. I understand victims have a voice too, but to punish innocent dog owners and their dogs is not solving the problem. The Hills are demanding legislation be crafted based on emotions not facts.

I don't mean to sound callous and insensitive, I truly hate to see a horrible attack like this happen to anyone.

But if every victim of every awful crime demanded that every perpetrator of a crime and either the racial class, gender group, or sexual persuasion group the perpetrator belonged to, all be punished along with the perpetrator - well the American public would be crying racism.

[Michelled]

The author of this article is an IDIOT. He/She basically argues that bans won't work but thinks we should enforce them anyway.

Where is Independence's conversation about their continuing METH problem? Their murder rate? Their crime in general? There wasn't even ONE conversation about what to do about the sexual predator that kidnapped, raped, tortured & FILMED THE MURDER of two women and kidnapped/raped a 5 year old girl? Apparently an (allegedly) hated male slumlord is more important than two hookers and an innocent child. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE OVER THIS!?! There was more outrage over Imus...that is pathetic.

My sympathy for the Hill clan ended when he took his pain and suffering and used it for his own personal glory and persecution of the innocent, instead of for the betterment of their community. They are our for revenge and the limelight - not justice.

I second what Cheryl said, can you imagine the response if I called for the imprisonment of ALL men because of the ONE that raped me?! It's laughable...But why tackle a real problem when you can pick on those that can't fight back.

[Caveat]

Not only are 'pit bulls' not the only culprit (should read culprits), they aren't near the top of the list of biters, despite their popularity.

If he's referring to the purebreds erroneously dubbed 'pit bulls' by the ignorant, they aren't even on the radar. I'm talking about the mutts.

Another idiotic editorial, file it with the rest. One wonders if they teach this topic in journo school these days - the similarity among these pieces, regardless of the geographic location, is striking.

If dogs are roaming, then address that problem.

I'm getting tired of the stupidity displayed by these editorials, not to mention the ignorance.