Talk Back: Crushing Testimony

Posted: 24 Sep 2010 02:12 PM PDT

Last week The HSUS’s Nancy Perry testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing arguing for the enactment of legislation to crack down on the despicable animal crush video industry. These videos typically show scantily clad women or girls, often in high-heeled shoes, impaling, crushing, stomping or smothering small animals to death for the titillation of viewers. This industry has been revived after two federal courts, most recently the U.S. Supreme Court in April, struck down as unconstitutional the original 1999 federal law criminalizing the sale of these videos.

The Supreme Court decision left open a pathway for Congress to pass a more targeted law and, in response, the House swiftly and overwhelmingly passed new legislation (H.R. 5566) to effectively crack down on the sale and distribution of crush videos and hold up against any future court challenge. We expect a companion bill to be introduced in the Senate any day and ask that you please urge your two senators to join as original cosponsors of that bill.

You had much to say about Nancy’s testimony and about those involved in this merciless subculture, and below I print some of your comments.

This is one of the most horrific things I have ever heard of! There is certainly something very wrong with these monsters that do these things to animals. It makes me sick to my stomach. I am urging everyone out there to contact your senators. I have more than once. Our senators need to be bombarded with phone calls on this. —Karen Wagner

I just read Nancy Perry's testimony and I am in tears. I can't believe this is a reality in this day and age. A very sincere thank you to the HSUS researchers who, despite it being horrific to watch, have to preview this horror so that people like Nancy Perry can testify about it on behalf of the animals. —Patricia Feurer

After reading through most of Nancy Perry's testimony before Congress I became physically ill. I looked away from my computer and down at the floor where my four dogs were lying, one at each side of my chair, snoozing away as they do when I'm at the keyboard. I cried... —Arden Allen

How can this horrific act of cruelty be legal? What is this world coming to? Can you imagine the excruciating pain these poor animals feel and to hear their horrific screams? This has got to stop! Please! What if someone did this to your beloved pet? —Dog Lover

When is it time to say no to seeing anything tortured, hurt and killed? If you say yes, this is OK to watch cruelty, then what is next? … There should be no doubt that it is wrong—why is there any debate at all? —Kim Cowans

Thank you for this update Wayne. What I don't understand is why this topic of crush videos should even be debated! It's disgusting, immoral, cruel, and a host of other adjectives. What is so difficult about banning these videos to begin with? There should not be any discussion required, just do it! I don't care about freedom of rights when it comes to abuse or killing innocent animals, children, women or anyone. Those who do these types of "activities" should be prosecuted… No sympathies from me for anyone who gets caught in this web of perversion. —Nancy Ball
As was stated, any reasonable person can agree that this bill is worthy of prompt Congressional action. God bless those that voted for this bill. —Rachel Raza

More than just banning videos, authorities need to actively seek out the producers, perpetrators, customers and other scum associated with this industry. They need to set up task forces along the lines of those formed to combat pedophilia. It really is the stuff of nightmares. —Stephen

I would love to wave victory flags jubilantly—but this decision should have been a no-brainer. Thankfully action was swift. What truly disturbs me is this: who are the three who did not vote to ban the videos? —Sharon DiGenova

I do not understand how any rational, reasonable person can find a reason to vote against any sort of legislation that outlaws intentional, barbaric violence against an animal for prurient reasons. I would like to know who the three legislators that voted against H.R. 5566 are. Is there any way you could print those three names? —Victoria, Clovis, Calif.

Note: The three representatives who opposed H.R. 5566 were Paul Broun, R-Ga., Tom Graves, R-Ga., and Ron Paul, R-Texas.