The following column was submitted by State Rep. Bruce Griffey (R-Paris):
House Bill 852 also known as the TN PAWS Act – the TN Protection of Animal Welfare & Safety Act – has been set for a hearing on Monday, October 14, at 1 pm before the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in House Hearing Room I of the TN Cordell Hull Building at 425 5th Avenue North in downtown Nashville. The sponsor of the bill, Representative Bruce Griffey, is encouraging anyone who wants to see TN’s laws changed to provide more appropriate justice for abused animals to attend the public hearing and express their voice.
This bill seeks to completely overhaul animal laws in Tennessee, provide stronger protection to voiceless victims, harsher penalties against animal abusers and greater financial assistance to law enforcement and rescue organizations who assist victimized animals. Griffey was inspired to write the bill based upon his experience as a prosecutor, and more recently, his experience in private practice representing Animal Rescue Corps (“ARC”) in last year’s “Noah’s Ark” case in Carroll County.
A hearing was held earlier this year during legislative session on March 20, 2019 at which time testimony was provided in support of the legislation. However, on April 3, 2019, Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville), Chair of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, deferred the bill to “Summer Study.”
“Tennessee is currently ranked as a ‘middle tier’ state with respect to animal protection laws and I want to make Tennessee a ‘top tier’ state. It is not uncommon for defendants charged with animal abuse to receive a suspended sentence and serve no jail time. My bill would change that and create mandatory sentences as well as mandatory fines, which are currently not in place. Those fines would go to animal shelters, humane societies and animal rescue organizations,” Griffey said.
Among some of the things the TN PAWS Act seeks to change is:
* Creating escalating mandatory minimum sentences and fines for animal abuse and neglect and earmarking the fines to go to law enforcement agencies, shelters, humane societies and animal rescue organizations which assist victimized animals;
* Increasing the penalty for aggravated animal cruelty, animal fighting and beastiality from a Class E Felony to a Class C Felony;
* Requiring individuals convicted of sex crimes against animals to register on the sex offender registry;
* Creating mandatory minimum “cost of care” security bonds to be posted by individuals charged with animal abuse, cruelty or neglect to cover the costs incurred by law enforcement agencies, shelters, humane societies or animal rescue organizations in caring for victimized animals who are the subject of criminal prosecutions; and
* mandating prohibition periods whereby convicted animal abusers would be prohibited from owning an animal or residing in a household where an animal is present.
These are just some of many changes that the TN PAWS Act will make.
“This bill will not only serve to protect and provide justice for innocent, voiceless animals, but it will also serve to protect humans. It is well established that individuals who victimize animals frequently progress to victimizing children, the elderly, women – anyone they perceive as defenseless and vulnerable. It is a well established fact that most serial killers start with abuse and cruelty to animals and progress from there to humans,” he said.
An online petition has been created to garner support for the bill, which can be accessed by the following link:
https://ujoin.co/campaigns/580/actions/public/1551646642?action_id=609&fbclid=IwAR2rqIXHlSvjC953brXLvFrtEKR-Lz5QXKBqFXLheZ9vR3agdH3AxkoMN-M
Menu
