Lee County Commissioners consider animal cruelty registry
Lee County Commissioners are considering a county registry for those individuals convicted of animal cruelty. A theory has been proposed by the Sheriff and others in the community that registries always reduce crime since those who were convicted are successfully managed by the registry. No data was presented to accompany these claims. This debate seems focused solely on emotion and irrational beliefs.
Studies and studies of studies exist that have clearly indicated the shortcomings of registries and their failure to reduce future crime. In the case of sexual offense registries, crime rates have continued to rise while over 90% of new crimes are not committed by those forced to register.
Well, if it works similar to the sex offender registry, AC registrants won’t be allowed to reside within 1000 feet of animal shelters, dog parks, veterinarian offices, or pet stores. Or socialize with anyone who has pets. And it won’t make one damn bit of difference in the commission of crimes against animals.
The claim that it costs nothing won’t last long, either. If passed, he’ll be asking for funds to maintain it. And the fools on the commission will probably give it to him.
And finally, odds are better than average that the definition of “cruelty to animals” will be periodically modified to ensure the AC registry gets bloated, in turn requiring more funding to maintain and conduct “compliance checks.”
Guessing Lee County deputies are getting bored with harassing sex offender registrants and need something else to keep them from having to deal with drug dealers, gang members, and other scary guys with guns.
Great response. I completely agree with you.
One or more of us should recommend an Adultery Registry. That may get their attention as many are likely to qualify.
LOL now thats funny cus 3/4 of the USA would be on it…lol
How about a “corrupt politician who make laws based on false or undocumented data or misleading presumptions” registry?
The registry is a failed experiment and is nothing more than name and shame scam foisted on people in a compromised and weak position. It does nothing to address the root cause of this behavior and adds a stigma to an already flawed person. At the root of any registry is a cruel and often inhumane spirit of the law masquerading as protection.
The SOR crosses State borders nationally and even internationally. It is inescapable.
These localized registries for other crimes have little in common with the SOR. They can’t make noncompliance a felony. Since not all locations maintain similar registries all an “other crime” registrant needs to do is relocate.
Yet they don’t want a drug dealer registry or a murder registry or a drunk driving registry go figure.
That’s because there’s always a “registry” for things that will get little to no blow-back and outrage from the general public.
Part of the selling point for registries is hate..
Well with so many politicians guilty of one (or more) of those crimes they would all be listed…since they make the laws that will never happen.