I'd like to take an opportunity to clarify the context of Florida HB 101 -- as it appears the media types would rather report on things than actually read what the actual piece of legislation they're reporting on.
Florida HB 101 is a law that basicallly would retract the Florida state law that forbids cities or counties from instituting Breed Specific Laws. Current Florida law makes breed specific laws illegal. HB 101 would allow them to make such laws.
HB101 is NOT a state-wide ban on "pit bulls". It seems that the some of the Florida media has failed to figure that out.
WITN TV in Greenville, SC -- "Florida Lawmakers Consider Pit Bull Ban"
NBC Channel 6 out of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale "Vicious Dog Bill Targets "pit bulls"
The bill was introduced by a Ft. Lauderdale State Representative who clearly isn't listening to his animal control officials, who don't want such a law because they say it is difficult to enforce and misguided.
Meanwhile, the bill doesn't appear to have much support. It is still in committee at the state level and has no sponsor for the Senate.
When 'pit bull' people say that you can't base decisions on laws and breeds on media reports because they are often inaccurate - this is exactly what we're referring to.
You know what I don't get about BSL NOW idiots? Is that they even use "statistics" like the ones about Miami-Dale county 20 year Pit Bull ban that still shows that Pit Bulls are alive and well(I use well loosely) in cities where there are bans. Doesn't that alone prove that BSL DOESN'T WORK?!
Posted by: Tony | March 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Tony,
The biggest problem I see is that people are creating these laws without a clear vision for what they want and think the law will do for them -- or even what they want it to do. There is no study of the results from other places that have passed the same law. There is little measurement to see if the results are what they want them to be (ie, Miami Dade County didn't even track dog bite numbers until 18 years after the law was passed).
There is no analysis, no expectations, no goals. They just seem to pass the law and hope.
Posted by: Brent | March 18, 2008 at 08:38 AM