Should There Be Mandatory Prison Sentences For People Who Abuse Animals?

[Politicz]

There's been an increase in animal abuse by humans lately, and it seems that the humans are getting little or no punishment for it. I've heard reports about grown men putting a rope around a cat's neck, then tying the rope around a tree, then pouring gasoline on the cat, and setting the cat on fire, while gleefully watching the poor animal burn to death, while struggling to get loose from the rope it was tied too. Yet, nothing happened to these men.
In Kansas City, Missouri, there was a man who abused his dog on a regular basis, and finally the man shot the dog in the head several times. The dog lived, but was blind in one eye, had nerve damage, and walked with a limp. The man received a few years in prison for this abuse, but many people were outraged that the man received prison time for shooting his dog. Oh, and let's not forget the dog fights for profit.
I could go on and on concerning animal abuses-but I won't. My questions to you are this:

1. Do you think there should be stricter federal laws passed to protect animals against unnecessary, deliberate, and cruel abuse by humans?

2. Do you think that humans should serve prison time for deliberately abusing or killing animals-specifically domesticated animals such as family pets.

3. Do you think that the life of animals are not that important, and that an animal being abused or killed by a human is no big deal?

I know what I think-but I want to know what you think-Get @ me with your opinion.

[paulm]

1. Do you think there should be stricter federal laws passed to protect animals against unnecessary, deliberate, and cruel abuse by humans?

It's been my experience that animal cruelty issues are state issues rather than federal (unless it involves the crossing of state lines). The laws should carry stiffer penalties. Most are little more than a slap on the wrist.

2. Do you think that humans should serve prison time for deliberately abusing or killing animals-specifically domesticated animals such as family pets.

Yes.

3. Do you think that the life of animals are not that important, and that an animal being abused or killed by a human is no big deal?

No.

[Politicz]

It's been my experience that animal cruelty issues are state issues rather than federal (unless it involves the crossing of state lines). The laws should carry stiffer penalties. Most are little more than a slap on the wrist.

Yes.

No.
Yeah, the laws are determined by individual states right now, but I think there should be some kind of federal law that covers all states. :)