653 HB 653 Alert H.B. 653 has passed the Texas House and will be voted on by the entire Texas Senate as early as Monday. Please do not send faxes. Tell them you are a constituent and give them your home address with zip code. Tell them that the Senate sponsor is Senator Cain and the bill is on the Intent Calendar.
Most serial killers start off abusing animals.
31 states in the District of Columbia has adopted felony level animal cruelty laws. H.B. 653 does not change what acts constitute animal cruelty but merely increases punishments for the most aggravated acts of cruelty - namely where violence or bizarre behavior is involved. Punishments for other acts of cruelty remains a misdemeanor. Even for the acts of animal cruelty which are punishable as a state felony, the judge has the discretion to lessen the penalty to a misdemeanor if the facts and circumstances dictate. This bill provides for an exemption for lawful hunting and trapping and for standard farming and ranching industry practices.