I'm innocent! I didn't shoot no one! |
We animals need a lobby. A strong lobby. Apparently the ASPCA and Humane Society don't know how to lobby or should I say, don't have the funds to lobby effectively. I'll tell you what I'm talking about.
Since the end of last year, three people I know on the Interwebs have been told to give up their beloved family members because of landlords and laws. One heartbroken woman gave her babies to a shelter and saw them get adopted by someone else before she could get them back. Another moved. Still another is a rebel and after trying to no avail to re-home them, kept them and is hoping not to get caught.
Click on image to biggify. |
Now contrast that to, oh let's say guns. I'm sure those same landlords don't have the same rules about how many guns one can own or bring into the house. Animals are regulated; guns aren't. Let's think for a minute: what causes more damage to homes and property? Cats or guns. That seems to me like an easy one but it's not so easy for lawmakers since someone with a gun can kill them if they vote the wrong way but they can handle most cats (see picture below).
Why is it so hard to pass laws making background checks mandatory to own a firearm? My peeps have gotten 2 of their cats from shelters—including myself—and they've have to fill out forms and get background checks for each of us. In fact, they originally had TW's name mixed up with a similar name and they weren't going to let her adopt me. Some shelters will even visit your home a few weeks after an adoption to see that the pet is being properly cared for.
While the current gun legislation on the Senate floor is weak, it may have prevented many of the massacres of recent years. The legislation to require background checks at gun shows and denying guns to the mentally ill may have prevented at least a couple of the recent slaughters. It might have stopped the massacre at the midnight showing of the newest Batman movie in Aurora, CO. A University of Colorado psychiatrist told the university's behavioral threat assessment team about him. Of course, they sat on their asses[sments] and did nothing. The gunman at Virginia Tech was already ruled mentally unfit, but the state somehow interpreted the rules to mean he had to have been committed to a hospital and he was allowed to purchase. A man who killed his family in Wisconsin would have been barred from purchasing online because of a domestic violence arrest and who can forget Colombine, where the two teenagers would now be too young.
According to the Huffington Post, at least 3300 people have been murdered by guns since Newtown. How many humans have cats murdered? For that matter, have many have pit bulls murdered? Don't even get me started on BSLs (Breed Specific Laws).
Excellent post, CK! Cats with guns? Who thinks this stuff up?!?
ReplyDeleteCK If you never wrote another blog post you could go away happy with this. I had NO IDEA how lax legislation was. The idea of guns terrifies me - most people should not have them. Why America has so many is just insane (sorry I speak as a non-US citizen with non US views).
ReplyDeleteGreat message, CK! Although I am not officially Blogging the Change for Animals today (I have been wrapped up in the AmazeCats bracket voting today!), I AM doing something on my blog today to BE the change - the post goes live a little after 10 AM your time. Paws up!
ReplyDeleteCats with guns? We have no restrictions here but I am sure in apartments the same thing must happen. Have a marvelous Monday.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Cats with guns? The things people think of! You are right that it's silly that there are stronger background checks for getting a cat than getting a firearm. Seems like misplaced priorities.
ReplyDeleteYou make such an excellent point CK... I borrow my dad's truck to take my daughter to school in the mornings and the radio is always on FOX News. Sometimes I turn it down and sometimes I start listening to it and it sucks me in. Some of the things on there just make me shake my head... There are a lot of things that are backwards around here these days.
ReplyDeleteI yhink the landlords that do things like that are pure evil, especially when the pets were approved in advance. We have a friend who is going through that right now. The lease permitted dogs, but since she has a pitbull she is being evicted.
ReplyDeleteOh CK - leave it up to you to put your own special spin on Blog the Change Day. And who should we send to Washington to represent the Cat Lobby? A certain gray and white ghetto kitty from the streets, purrhaps?
ReplyDeleteVicki Cook
Team BTC
EXCELLENT article CK! Just EXCELLENT! You hit the nail right on the head on every point. When it comes to gun control and usage, I'm embarrassed to say I live in the US. WI now has the open carry law, which means if you take your children to a local park, people can carry their weapons and do what they want. It's especially bad when some sort of fest is happening in the park. Where there is a fest or pawty, there is drinking. Drinking and guns don't mix in my book. I'm happy I am the age I am and probably won't be around for too many more years as I don't like the path we're taking anymore. It's almost to the point where I'm afraid to go to the store for fear someone will open fire!
ReplyDeleteWonderful and important post! I love the idea of getting big pet business to help lobby against BSL. And as for gun control, the simple fact is that in countries where access to guns is better regulated there are far fewer gun homicides. Period.
ReplyDeleteNo question, there will always be crazies and there will sometimes be tragedies. But instead of focusing on how a few will do what they do in spite of the laws, how about thinking of how many will actually be prevented or deterred from acting on their sickness?
Very good post.
ReplyDeleteI trust in your innocence!
ReplyDeleteI think this should be read to the Senate Committee on Gun Control. Wait. Do we really have one?
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, CK! You are so right ... it's as though our elected officials have totally lost all common sense...
ReplyDeleteck...manne mannee lawz maded by a purrson(s) iz equal ta de laws of azz...
ReplyDeletepurrson=law=azz
look up azz sum time N see how manee purrsonz ewe find...
grate post by de way....
Excellent post, CK!
ReplyDeleteOur hearts break for those families that have been forced to give up their pets or move.
And don't worry.... that is NOT Waffles with that gun.
xo, Katie
Preach it, girl! MomKatt & I are shocked and revolted at the pics on the 'Net of cats with guns - like it's supposed to be "funny" we suppose. But it's NOT. If cats were given a choice, I don't think they'd touch one of those things with a ten-foot teaser wand. It's sad - what's WRONG with background checks? NOTHING if you're an honest person - but no, saving another's life is less important to these idiots than them getting their gun RIGHT THEN AND THERE. THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT.
ReplyDeleteOh don't get us started.
Excellent post girl. Meow it.
Word.
Selina
we agree, you have to fill out pages upon pages for adoption (but actually my Mom thinks that SHOULD be the case) but ANYONE can get a gun......what's wrong with THAT picture?
ReplyDeletePreaching to the choir today...I'm in Florida, the"Right to Shoot" state...I'm weird cause I don't/won't have a gun...Groups like HSUS are too busy paying execs outrageous salaries to use their funds for anything productive...
ReplyDeleteGreat post CK!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLaws permitting people to have only 3 cats yet Octomom has how many kids she cannot take care of?
Sheesh !!!!!!!
Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
Treasure,Tiger,JJ and Julie
You said it, CK! We would never touch a gun. And those pictures of cats with guns. Just. not. funny.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%! Just think of how many lives would be saved if instead of buying guns, that money was donated to help low cost cat spay neuters. Both human and cat lives could be saved.
ReplyDeleteThose pics show us the big problem with the culture here as seen as cute and how guns are viewed. The lobby is one first step in right direction!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think anykiller brought a CAT to that Colorado movie theater or that Connecticut school. Duh.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Don't worry about missing any Spitty videos. The only ones she ever makes are the ones she puts on the blog.
I am totally with you CK. Though gun laws are very strict in the UK, thankfully, but a lunatic who wants to get hold of one can always find a way!! :( Mum was also given the third degree before she could adopt me and she didn't mind at all cos I am worth it :) love Austin xox
ReplyDeleteCK, a heckuva excellent well done blog!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd like it a lot if you would teleport over and snuggle up to keep me warm. That would be really, really nice.
ReplyDeleteCathy Keisha, we agree with you 110%. Our Mama has to pay an extra $20 per month for Ateret, and if they knew about Abbi and me, it'd be another $40 a month. We need to put our paws down and mew loudly to stop people from interfering from our happy home life! BIG PURRS from Livia.
ReplyDeleteVery thought-provoking post CK. You make a lot of very good points. Things like this are real sad.
ReplyDelete