H.R. 80: Captive Primate Safety Act

[benld74]

I didn't realize this bill would so partisan.
Democrats voted for this bill 247-2, while Republicans voted against it 76-93
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Maybe there are a lot of Republicans that like monkeying around?

[Stinky The Clown]

2. This bill is probably well intended, but it is the kind of shit that makes its sponsors look stupid

It is also a bill that I could imagine either a Dem or a Rep introducing.

Yes, I am sure it is serious and I am sure it was well intentioned and I am sure the great apes will be the prime beneficiaries.

But what motivated this bill at this time?

THAT is why these sorts of bills make the sponsors look like pandering assholes. This time our side looks like pandering assholes, but this is not a partisan issue. Its just politically tone deaf.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. The attack on the woman in CT by a captive chimp

who bit off her nose and chin and damaged her eyes.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. My point, exactly. That incident prompted this bill.

I call that pandering.

That is NOT to say the bill is wrong. It is probably a good bill. But this is a no win situation. It might be better to hold off on these sorts of things so as to put as much distance as possible between the inspiration and the law. I suspect this is not a highly time sensitive issue (flocks of sleeper ape cells ready to bite faces off across the country).

My point is one of perception.

[Mad_Cow_Disease]

3. I don't agree with this legislation.

Are deaths caused by primates higher than other domesticated animals? If someone wants to keep a primate as a personal pet, that is thier choice. I see owning primates as no different than owning pittbulls, snakes, large cats, firearms, cars or any other device/pet that has inherent risk. They need to make an informed decision and be responsible for their actions and any outcomes.This bill was nothing more than the hilltop actions of pandering politicians striving to look like they're "in-touch". The only thing that happened today, in my opinion, is we lost a little bit more freedom.

I would however agree to restrictions applying to the safe-keeping of animals for the safety of others.

[pitohui]

4. broken link or something

i don't find the article you cite and i don't know the text of the new law or if it will have any real effect on the keeping of primates in urban/suburban areas

however, we have a research facility in the greater new orleans area, in a highly populated area (covington) and i would strongly support better controls on these animals, which are used for research into dangerous viruses such as HIV/AIDS and so on

over the years these primates have escaped many, many, MANY times, and there is never anything done about it, such as fining the facility, even tho there's a private school nearby and the primates are frequently picked up on its campus

people are afraid to say anything "because it's jobs," yeah, well, some kid getting bitten and infected by a deadly disease would also be a job for the docs and the hospitals

i understand the need for research animals, esp. for life-threatening diseases, i even understand an argument can be made that you can't attract researchers unless the facility is in a location with high quality of life (covington is upscale) BUT i cannot understand why we tolerate the repeated sloppiness at a facility where you are researching deadly disease

just too many escapes over the years of these large dangerous animals, IF the act you cite means that the animals will be kept under more secure control, i'll all for it -- as i said, i would like to know more about it, email me if you find a better link (your link did not have the article at the top and as i scrolled down, i get kicked off the page and receive some kind of error message)

as for private people keeping large primates as pets, i see no reason why this should be tolerated unless the individual in question is strongly qualified and licensed in some way -- just my humble opinion but the world is too crowded now for eccentrics to be keeping lions, chimps, etc. in their homes without proof of ability to provide quality of life for those animals and reasonable safety to the public -- there may be a place for keeping these as pets in sanctuaries for older animals but again IF the keeper is highly qualified, licensed, etc.

[backscatter712]

5. I can understand the Republican opposition.

It would create a lot of legal difficulties for Bush...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. ROFL!!!!! n/t