Appropriate punishment for animal cruelty

[Bernardini]

This recent incident in Pike County, KY is beyond belief:

“Two Pike County high school students were charged yesterday with killing three horses and wounding several others last week on an Eastern Kentucky strip mine, investigators said.
One of the horses was shot more than 50 times, police said.
The horses, among 29 animals owned by Virginia resident Trish Hayes for trail rides in Breaks Interstate Park, were grazing on a strip mine when the boys, both 17, arrived in a Toyota pickup about 4 p.m. on Jan. 25, said Pike County Chief Deputy Sheriff Melvin Sayers.
The two suspects told Sayers and Detective Richard Ray that they drove to the site to shoot rabbits. "But one of the juveniles jumped out and said, 'I don't like these horses,'" Sayers said, "and they just went to shooting horses."
Ray said one suspect dislikes the animals because he was once injured by a horse.
Drugs might have been involved, Sayers said. "They said they took a couple pills, but didn't know what kind," he said. "But one of these kids had a 3.4 grade-point average, so you're not dealing with little dummies."
The students told police they had been armed with two .22-caliber rifles and a .22-caliber pistol. "They shot and killed three and wounded several others," Sayers said.
After the shooting started, the other horses fled. But the suspects apparently returned to their truck and chased them for about 7 miles on the strip mine, officials said. Hayes said one horse was shot six times but survived.
Each of the suspects was charged with criminal mischief and cruelty to animals. They were lodged in the Breathitt County Juvenile Detention Center and were scheduled for a hearing at 11 a.m. today in Pike juvenile court.
Pike District Judge Darrel Mullins "told us to charge both of them as juveniles and not to release their names," Sayers said.
One of the students turned 18 on Sunday.
Hayes said she hopes both are prosecuted as adults. "That's because, under juvenile laws in Kentucky, all they'll get is a slap on the wrists," she said.
Hayes, who has owned Breaks Stable in Breaks, Va., for 14 years, said she released most of the horses on the mountaintop strip mine adjacent to her father's home in October after the riding season ended.
"You've got miles and miles of flat land where these horses graze and just stay," she said.
There are no fences, but the horses rarely strayed from the strip mine, Hayes said.
"When they're up there, they look like a band of wild horses, but when you drive up, they'll come right up to your window," she said.
Sayers said residents of the area were able to identify both the suspects and the vehicle. "We just put the vehicle and names together and tracked them down," he said.”

[randallscott35]

Death Penalty.

Animal cruelty is the best indicator of future violence against humans.

[Bernardini]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Death Penalty.

Animal cruelty is the best indicator of future violence against humans.

I have no dbout in that... I dont understand how can you shoot an animal 50 times ??

[Bernardini]

i hope these juvys are prosecuted as adults, Im very angry!!

[randallscott35]

They'll get a slap on the wrist.

[miraja2]

Honestly....I think they should do some serious prison time.

[avance2000]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Death Penalty.

i don't think that would do much good. i think it would be productive to give them some jail time, and then do some directed community service (and a lot of it) in which they helped animals out in some capacity. make them work at an animal shelter or something along those lines where they can do some good for animals for a really long time.
if they screw that up.....lock them back up.

[Gander]

A bunch of white trash hillbillies kill beautiful innocent animals and severely injury others, and this isnt the problem with society, its the people who think they should go to prision or be put to sleep thats the real problem in society.
Okay, what time does Buffy the Vampire start?

[Gander]

make them work at an animal shelter or something along those lines where they can do some good for animals for a really long time.

Brilliant idea. Put more defenseless animals in danger. And I thought George Bush had some bad ideas!

[avance2000]

Originally Posted by Gander

make them work at an animal shelter or something along those lines where they can do some good for animals for a really long time.

Brilliant idea. Put more defenseless animals in danger. And I thought George Bush had some bad ideas!

well you are right about bush.....but i doubt they would be stupid enough to do more harm if they knew that their work was being watched and that there would be severe prison terms for any such behavior.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Gander

A bunch of white trash hillbillies kill beautiful innocent animals and severely injury others, and this isnt the problem with society, its the people who think they should go to prision or be put to sleep thats the real problem in society.
Okay, what time does Buffy the Vampire start?

OK Gander, I'm not going to respond to that rather personal attack...I understand you don't agree with me...I'll watch Buffy and you watch whatever you enjoy, it's interesting what folks feel obligated to bring up when they disagree with me...Blockhead felt necessary to attack my religious beliefs, I guess in your mind watching a TV show is grounds for ridicule...I'll consider you and he of like minds.

[The Bid]

I dont even think John Lee Malvo should have gotten the sentence he recieved , and he killed people

[The Bid]

Well you may "hardly think 17 is a child", but under the law (and its a good law) 18+ is when you are considered an adult. These laws are in place because the brain of a CHILD doesnt think like the brian of an adult.

Obviously these kids werent thinking at all... Im not saying there should be no consequence, but I think some restitution, education, and profesional help is the correct punishment.

I personally dont think anybody under 18 should ever be tried as an adult, regardless of the crime they commit. No exceptions

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Well you may "hardly think 17 is a child", but under the law (and its a good law) 18+ is when you are considered an adult. These laws are in place because the brain of a CHILD doesnt think like the brian of an adult.

Obviously these kids werent thinking at all... Im not saying there should be no consequence, but I think some restitution, education, and profesional help is the correct punishment.

I personally dont think anybody under 18 should ever be tried as an adult, regardless of the crime they commit. No exceptions

Adulthood is a slippery subject...using a numerical constant doesn't take into account developmental differences nonetheless, I agree in principle...again, deciding when some person is "old enough" to punish or kill sorta misses the point imo!

[Bernardini]

I have three dogs, two cats, and someday horses, ducks, ... Im not alone in saying that I treat my animals like my childern. So if someone harms my kids what would I do ?

I haven't read this thread (only the original post), so I'm sorry if my post here is no longer really "on topic." I'm responding to the title of the thread:

All I have to say is "and eye for an eye."

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Champali Chick

I haven't read this thread (only the original post), so I'm sorry if my post here is no longer really "on topic." I'm responding to the title of the thread:

All I have to say is "and eye for an eye."

Who was it that said...all you get for the philosophy of an eye for an eye is lots of blind people?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Who was it that said...all you get for the philosophy of an eye for an eye is lots of blind people?

gandhi i believe...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Champali Chick

I haven't read this thread (only the original post), so I'm sorry if my post here is no longer really "on topic." I'm responding to the title of the thread:

All I have to say is "and eye for an eye."

i don't think our system should have punishment that is a criminal act in the guise of justice. that's the whole issue with he should get what he gave. society is supposed to be civilized, doing what the criminal did-albeit to the criminal-would be a similar despicable act, wouldn't it?

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

i don't think our system should have punishment that is a criminal act in the guise of justice. that's the whole issue with he should get what he gave. society is supposed to be civilized, doing what the criminal did-albeit to the criminal-would be a similar despicable act, wouldn't it?

Yes it would...the ancient concept of "lex talionis" is presented in most religions unfortunately...in Christianity it comes from Exodus 21:23-27, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"...Mahatma Gandhi (you were right Danzig) said, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and the world would soon be blind and toothless". Then again, I don't care much for Exodus cause of the deliberate mis-translation of Exodus 22:18 by King James' cronies!