Readers' Comments
113 results
Tamara W.
4 years ago
Under the logic of the people selling the videos it should also be legal to sell child porn, after all free speech right? It is crap, pure crap and those who sell or possess the videos should be charged the same as they would if it was child porn. Innocent victim unable to defend itself, it is sick. I say throw the book at these pukes and maybe make a video of them being tortured. Freedom of speech is for the press and right to peacefully assemble and put forth grievances about our government without retaliation NOT about possessing a video or selling videos of animal abuse child porn or any other sick stuff. People need to stop using freedom of speech as an excuse to break the laws. Our founding fathers would be rolling in their graves over this stupidity.
Amber
4 years ago
if a crime of any description had to be committed in order for the video to exist, shouldn't that be grounds enough to call into question its "constitutional protection" as "freedom of expression"? if you knowingly buy stolen goods, you're guilty of a crime yourself...if you buy a tape depicting real live animal abuse, that's freedom of expression? it's sad to think our justice system can place more value on, say, a watch or a stereo than on animals.
Melissa
4 years ago
I think it is just totally uncalled for, Them even considering this free speech!!! Animal abuse in any shape or form is not free speech nor in my eyes ever will be. I think giving consent to things like this is just asking for more trouble. Animals are living being just as we are and should be treated as such.
Jeri J.
4 years ago
We already know that animal abuse is just a prelude to harming children and eventual murders. How can they even consider revisiting the issue? Can't we employ some common sense to our laws? What does it take to make people understand the mere showing or promoting of these films is giving consent to this type of behavior in the minds of some people.
Denise L.
4 years ago
Animals are still being viewed as objects in the eyes of the law, which is absolutely disgusting. To me, animal abuse is as bad as human abuse (particularly abuse involving children-animals are innocent like kids) & for there to actually be a question about free speech involving this issue is ridiculous!
Brandi O.
4 years ago
okay so if a guy rapes me and sales the tapes he can get away with it it is the small thing they are def. animals and I would be a def. woman what the hell is the difference can someone tell me I hope that man is getting it in jail you know what I mean and they are selling the video of that then how would he feel PIGS and if the philadelphia courts think he is right they are pigs too
Liane M.
4 years ago
This has nothing to do with "Free Speech". The animals in these videos are real, not animated cartoon characters. They need to be protected from the cruelty of sick individuals. So the Philadelphia courts say it’s ok to torture and abuse animals in the name of "Free Speech". How sick is that? Is there something in the water over in Philly that would make supposedly intelligent, educated people make that ruling?
Rjlupinskat
4 years ago
To me, the only time when such videos/film/photos should be allowed is with documentaries (ASPCA, veterinary or criminal training, news reporting, animal cops), and even then within certain guidelines. There should NOT be profit made from any of it.
Lauren
4 years ago
I was going to bring up this point as well. You can't do this for crimes against humans so it should be the same for animals and any living creature. What the lawyers said "Animal cruelty has "no place in a civilized society," and those who engage in it, or profit from it, should be prosecuted." is absolutly true.
People try to take the Freedom of Speech thing way too far. If whatever they are trying to do is outlawed every other way, the default cry is that is against Freedom of Speech. It's rediculous.
Veronica (Ronnie) G.
4 years ago
These are "crush" videos. It is said used for a "fetish." People get off watching kittens, puppies, and other live animals be pierced with stiletto heels, stomped on. They enjoy watching and hearing the screams of the animals.
The HSUS has been working on this for awhile. All was going well until this Judge from Philadelphia overturned the ban on these films. You know, some things are just too unbelievable.
Yes, animals ARE like children. Exploited, abused, tortured, killed. Both children and animals are innocents. Vulnerable, depending on human adults... both unable to speak nor protect themselves in the hands of violent people.
Sanssouci
4 years ago
People are allowed to say, "I like dog fights," if that's how they feel. That's what free speech is. But once you actually start fighting dogs, taping dog fights, or profiting from those fights in anyway it's another matter and should in no way be protected by your right to free speech. I think it should be illegal to sell videos of anyone (human or nonhuman) being killed, tortured, or raped. Only sick people would want to watch that stuff anyway, and no one should profit off someone else's misery to that extent.
Sunny13180
4 years ago
I love it when stupid people like this use the "Freedom of Speech" term to justify & defend to do whatever they want in this country, even if its breaking the law or justifying something horrible. This is ILLEGAL, PERIOD!
m s.
4 years ago
The free speech defense in this case is ridiculous and insulting to decent people. These savage activities if not illegal, should be illegal -- they're unequivocally immoral. The fact that videos exist is evidence and should be used against these unconscionable criminals, who should be locked up and pay severe consequences. By no means should these idiot-criminals be allowed to profit financially from these videos/evidence -- after all, what kind of society do we want to be a part of? Investigations into these activities should be a priority, the animals should be rescued and taken away from these savage abusers. There should be a huge crackdown on these activities and anyone participating in them should be severely punished -- until they are all abolished. These thugs should come no where near animals -- ever -- they're mentally unstable and belong in a rubber room until the courts decide what is deemed fit for them. Keep them out of society until .. God knows! -- what is a certainty -- keep them away from animals forever and ever.
Angieloveschihuahuas
4 years ago
Are you kdding me? What is wrong with these people that say it's safe under free speech? Would they protect that same person if this jerk videotaped a woman or kid getting maimed? I think they have been taking their crazy pills! This is one step from ruling it's ok to videotaping kids beating each other up and selling it for profit!
Kim B.
4 years ago
These videos are not free speech. They are videos of a crime. The buyer, seller, maker of the video, those people whose dogs and other animals are in these videos and anyone connected with the production of these videos should all be prosecuted. I hope the Supreme Court decides in the favor of the animals. I wish it would hear the case sooner than October.
Lori
4 years ago
Like children and pornography, animals are not in a position to make a decision or choice. We are the animals voice. What voice are we shouting if we rule selling photos and videos of animals being tortured unconstitutional and in violation of the freedom of speech? One has to wonder about the mental state of the person who wants the pictures and the one who sales them and the one who made them to start with. Because people will continue to use the freedom of speech as a loop hole, animals should be given the same protection that children are in regards to pornography.
Emily B.
4 years ago
If the offending videos were of actual torture, rape, murder, etc. of another human being, it would be called "evidence" and there would be absolutely no question. why is it any different if it's a dog/pig/cat/bull/sheep etc?
this guy is PROFITING off of another creatures absolute pain, possibly death, and the courts are trying to PROTECT HIM?
give me a break... this is just ridiculous.
Lherbertson
4 years ago
Free speech is the right to state your opinion and to protest. If animal abusers wanted to march to protest the law, there's nothing we can do about it. However, these videos don't contain a message or opinion. They are depictions of a crime. If a video of a human being tortured was sold, that's not free speech. The sale of videos containing a crime should ALL be illegal, regardless of the crime. These videos should be turned into the police, not sold for "free speech".
mistie E.
4 years ago
He was taping and selling these horrible act's he is guilty, simple,,,, Why is it that sick people can sit on the fence with issues like this ? He is sick !! He was selling this "underground" HELLO !!!!!!!! What judge in their right mind would say "oh- he wasent given his proper right's" WHAT !!! What about the rights of the poor animals that had to suffer so he could get a few laughs and make a few dollars ? This just makes me sick.........
Patricia C.
4 years ago
Why should it be unconstitutional? Any kind of cruelty should be outlawed that depicts the outright violence of animals or children. What is this world coming to that you can protect some things under the first ammendment, but you cannot protect other things that present danger to the innocents.
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