Post by Jamie on Jun 16, 2009 18:26:14 GMT -5
How many of you read the book “Dogs of Velvet and Steel” by Robert Stevens? Or better yet seen the movie People vs. Larry Flynt? This is the modern redux of that but Jerry Falwell is now played by the HSUS.
origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/08-769.htm
origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/qp/08-00769qp.pdf
A request from Robert Stevens…If you can help please write a letter in support, pet owners, organizations, dog registries help out in this one.
Bob Stevens Letters…
Dear Bulldog Fancy (or any other “bully breed” or breed the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) seeks to eliminate),
The HSUS has been successful in convincing the Supreme Court to take my case about the right to Pit Bull Journalism, which they seek to make a felon.
The good news is that one of the foremost Constitutional attorneys in America has agreed to take the case to the Supreme Court pro bono (free). Her name is Patricia Millett and you can google her at her name and law firm Akin Gump in D. C.
The other good news is that the American Canine Foundation (you can google them also) – they have a long history of successfully fighting BSL and will be filing a brief to carve out a rebuttal to the outrageous claims of HSUS. Animal Canine Foundation will be filing a response to HSUS before the Supreme Court.
The help of a SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF AMERICA is needed to fight this. If you want the first amendment right to Pit Bull or Bulldog documentaries and historical writing and films, please write a short letter. You now have the opportunity to have yourself heard by the Supreme Court.
We ask for only a short couple of paragraphs that fit on the front of ONE PAGE, addressed to the Supreme Court, protesting the Statute that makes it a felon to view Pit Bull – or any other breed of like ilk DOCUMENTARIES. We do not seek the right to dog fighting videos but rather to historical DOCUMENTARIES and Catch dog films and magazines. More SPECIFICALLY – to DECLARE THE STATUTE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
My case was dismissed upon appeal, the third circuit finding the Statute unconstitutional. HSUS appealed to the Supreme Court to declare the Statute be upheld and the Supreme Court accepted. The HSUS is preparing their brief now. My work is being used for argument - but it is the STATUTE THAT IS IN COURT – and Pit Bulldogs - NOT me.
The Statute is Title 18 of Section 48, U. S. Code. You can google it also and in so doing find out more about the case. Just do not believe all that you read – the gov't, led by HSUS got away with their usual malarkey. The statute reads that it is a felon to create and sell a depiction of animal cruelty in interstate commerce for a profit – punishable by 5 years federal prison, each offense. Exceptions cited include any depiction that has serious journalistic, educational, historical or artistic value. That one word SERIOUS is what HSUS has used to win. For those who do not know me, I am Bob Stevens, author of the book Dogs of Velvet and Steel (chapters are the Pet, the Show dog, the Weight Pulling dog, the Catch dog, the Schutzhund dog etc.) I also did a video entitled Pit Pro (basic Schutzhund), $100 Keep, (conditioning for the show ring and hunting), a video entitled Catch Dogs and Country Living, a Documentary entitled Japan Pit Fights about dog fighting in Japan where it is legal – I traveled to Japan for this, interviewed the organizations and players and documented it all – that is Journalism any way you define it! That film comes with an educational booklet describing the activity in Japan and the history of it. Lastly I did a documentary entitled Pick-A-Winna in which I show footage of famous Pit Bull champions including Grand Champion Tornado and Grand Champion Mickey – etc – dogs and owners now long passed away. I edited out any blood or rough scenes in the documentaries. The film comes with an extensive educational booklet that thoroughly describes the sport. This is important - unlike Animal Planet etc. I edited out all blood or rough scenes from the dog fighting documentaries. Basically you view two dogs wrestling around and the footage is narrated like Howard Cosell narrating a boxing match and explanatory narration.
The relevance to you is not my work but the fact that this Statute, Section 48 can be used to prosecute any innocent American Journalist and it erases your first amendment right – and if the case is lost and HSUS wins – even a Picture that shows a dog in fighting mode can be a felon. BECAUSE – the HSUS has successfully argued that ANY depiction, be it educational or journalistic, about dog fighting or hunting wild boar – has no SERIOUS VALUE. The HSUS contends any picture or other depiction PROMOTES THE ACTIVITY and ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN CITIZENS and therefore the exceptions cited in the statute do not apply. They use the following arguments and the question is – do you agree and do you consider the HSUS credible '”EXPERTS” as the Supreme Court does – to present data for consideration on this Statute? So - in other words if you are going to form a protest letter to the Supreme Court, you should know what are you protesting. Specific. So the following are some of the allegations of the HSUS made in this case. Not concerning my films and writing – ALL Pit Bull or bully breed films and writing that after they win this case they can use to prosecute. They use my work as example. The following are statements made to the Supreme Court Judges – the question is do you agree? If not please express your contribution. Do not make any unprofessional comments or it will be ignored. Do not make any statement the HSUS can claim is “hearsay”, or represent radical statements by Pit Bull fanatics - only documented facts.
The prosecutors in the case are, sadly, the American Gov't (USDA), but they are influenced and misled by HSUS. HSUS was accepted by the court as “experts” and invited to submit relevant testimony as ”amicus curiae” (friends of the court), because they instructed the court they are “the nation's largest non-profit animal protection organization with more than 10 million members and that their mission is to protect animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and filed work.” They note that they have been “used as “amicus” in numerous animal protection issues.”
I should be noted that Animal Canine Foundation (ACF) has also been accepted in courts to file “amicus” as a rebuttal exposing HSUS and in February of 2008 ACF was accepted by the Supreme Court as amicus in another case as a rebuttal to HSUS.
HSUS claims that any depiction that shows an animal in fighting mode is on the same level as child porn and therefore detrimental to society and not protected by the first amendment. Do you agree?
HSUS repeatedly refer to the catch work in my Catch Dog film and booklet as “dogs violently attacking helpless pigs”. Actually the primary motif of my film/booklet is training the young dog to catch (by the ear) to minimize harm to both dog and hog. What do you think? Do you agree that HSUS should be allowed to make films and writing or any other depiction about catch work a felon? According to the Statute any depiction such as a dog catching a hog is akin to child pornography, detrimental to the integrity of America and should be a felon. If they win your magazines become illegal. Will you stand and fight? Write a letter. Deadline – now!
HSUS claims “videotapes MEMORIALIZING dogfights are integral to the success of this criminal industry.” They claim that it is nearly impossible to catch and convict dog fighters because they are so secretive and the only way to fight the activity is to “dry up the watering hole – films depicting the activity.” They claim that young people exposed to such depraved animal cruelty tend to become violent criminals – and cite a “study” to document this. The study is an old one that found serial and other violent criminals engaged in activities like pulling the legs of bugs when children. Personally, I think that hunting has been part of our culture since our founding and boys and girls have hunted with their father since, often, age ten. I do not see this has resulted in violent criminals in our country. What do you think?
HSUS has marketed a video entitled “Unleashed” that depicts horrible very gory dog fighting scenes – while they ask for donations. The gov't and HSUS refer to this work as deserving of first amendment protection for the quality of the work and its educational benefit. My films edited out blood and rough scenes. Do you agree their work is legal but that an historical documentary is a felon? HSUS has also produced a Catch Dog video depicting hogs being caught. The sound effects emphasize the hogs squealing and their comments the poor pigs are shrieking in pain – I found it googling HSUS and Pit Bulls. Do you agree with this? I am not a farmer, but I have noticed hogs squeal all day long in the pen while they squabble.
The feds dressed all in black including black ski masks, attacked our home in the dead of night (six years ago), hollering and screaming and threatening my disabled wife, Julie, with assault rifles while she cried and trembled with fear. What does the constitution of the United States say about that? I am by far not the only one and this type of violence toward the Pit Bull community generated by HSUS is escalating – and if you don’t complain – the Supreme Court Judges will never even know about it. Got anything you want to say about it?
If just one Pit Bull club or other breed, from EVERY STATE IN THE UNION will write a letter – it will show the Supreme Court that a SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS believe they should have a right under the first amendment, not to cruel bloody depiction – but to quality documentaries about their breed or hunting. Show the Supreme Court that the NATION believes in the first amendment and that judges should not legislate – and judges should not change the constitution. Actually, it is QUANTITY that matters, not content. They will only peruse the letters – but quantity – EVERY STATE IN THE NATION - THAT SHOULD IMPRESS.
All this is lengthy and if you are going to respond and want me to forward a copy of the brief HSUS will file in a couple weeks, request and I will forward. IF you write, please do so in a professional manner. Keep in mind these judges believe very much in HSUS. I f your letter sounds like some radical Pit Bull organization sounding off – you will only fortify that feeling. However, if you have solid documented data that can contradict the legality of the claims made by HSUS – that is what can help the breed. The harsh reality of the situation is that the judges have a mind set totally geared to the LEGAL ISSUES ONLY. They do not care if HSUS is a good organization or a bad organization and don't want to be used as a sounding board – that type of narration they will just toss. They want to hear about the legality of the Statute - period. Should you write, address your letter to The Supreme Court of the Untied States and mail it to:
But please do not send ME links to HSUS stuff – I am getting BOMBARDED with them! It is the Gov’t that needs to be informed. Send a letter to the gov’t.
Deadline – HSUS files its brief June 15. – we then have less than a month to respond. On purpose, they arranged to push it. After first week of July, too late as it stands now.
The Animal Canine Foundation with a copy to:
23969 Northeast State Route 3 Patricia Millett
Suite G 101 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Belfair WA 98528 Robert S. Strauss Bldg.
1333 New Hampshire Avenue N.W.
Washington D. C. 20036 – 1564
In Christ,
Bob Stevens
Col 3:15-17
origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/08-769.htm
origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/qp/08-00769qp.pdf
A request from Robert Stevens…If you can help please write a letter in support, pet owners, organizations, dog registries help out in this one.
Bob Stevens Letters…
Dear Bulldog Fancy (or any other “bully breed” or breed the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) seeks to eliminate),
The HSUS has been successful in convincing the Supreme Court to take my case about the right to Pit Bull Journalism, which they seek to make a felon.
The good news is that one of the foremost Constitutional attorneys in America has agreed to take the case to the Supreme Court pro bono (free). Her name is Patricia Millett and you can google her at her name and law firm Akin Gump in D. C.
The other good news is that the American Canine Foundation (you can google them also) – they have a long history of successfully fighting BSL and will be filing a brief to carve out a rebuttal to the outrageous claims of HSUS. Animal Canine Foundation will be filing a response to HSUS before the Supreme Court.
The help of a SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF AMERICA is needed to fight this. If you want the first amendment right to Pit Bull or Bulldog documentaries and historical writing and films, please write a short letter. You now have the opportunity to have yourself heard by the Supreme Court.
We ask for only a short couple of paragraphs that fit on the front of ONE PAGE, addressed to the Supreme Court, protesting the Statute that makes it a felon to view Pit Bull – or any other breed of like ilk DOCUMENTARIES. We do not seek the right to dog fighting videos but rather to historical DOCUMENTARIES and Catch dog films and magazines. More SPECIFICALLY – to DECLARE THE STATUTE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
My case was dismissed upon appeal, the third circuit finding the Statute unconstitutional. HSUS appealed to the Supreme Court to declare the Statute be upheld and the Supreme Court accepted. The HSUS is preparing their brief now. My work is being used for argument - but it is the STATUTE THAT IS IN COURT – and Pit Bulldogs - NOT me.
The Statute is Title 18 of Section 48, U. S. Code. You can google it also and in so doing find out more about the case. Just do not believe all that you read – the gov't, led by HSUS got away with their usual malarkey. The statute reads that it is a felon to create and sell a depiction of animal cruelty in interstate commerce for a profit – punishable by 5 years federal prison, each offense. Exceptions cited include any depiction that has serious journalistic, educational, historical or artistic value. That one word SERIOUS is what HSUS has used to win. For those who do not know me, I am Bob Stevens, author of the book Dogs of Velvet and Steel (chapters are the Pet, the Show dog, the Weight Pulling dog, the Catch dog, the Schutzhund dog etc.) I also did a video entitled Pit Pro (basic Schutzhund), $100 Keep, (conditioning for the show ring and hunting), a video entitled Catch Dogs and Country Living, a Documentary entitled Japan Pit Fights about dog fighting in Japan where it is legal – I traveled to Japan for this, interviewed the organizations and players and documented it all – that is Journalism any way you define it! That film comes with an educational booklet describing the activity in Japan and the history of it. Lastly I did a documentary entitled Pick-A-Winna in which I show footage of famous Pit Bull champions including Grand Champion Tornado and Grand Champion Mickey – etc – dogs and owners now long passed away. I edited out any blood or rough scenes in the documentaries. The film comes with an extensive educational booklet that thoroughly describes the sport. This is important - unlike Animal Planet etc. I edited out all blood or rough scenes from the dog fighting documentaries. Basically you view two dogs wrestling around and the footage is narrated like Howard Cosell narrating a boxing match and explanatory narration.
The relevance to you is not my work but the fact that this Statute, Section 48 can be used to prosecute any innocent American Journalist and it erases your first amendment right – and if the case is lost and HSUS wins – even a Picture that shows a dog in fighting mode can be a felon. BECAUSE – the HSUS has successfully argued that ANY depiction, be it educational or journalistic, about dog fighting or hunting wild boar – has no SERIOUS VALUE. The HSUS contends any picture or other depiction PROMOTES THE ACTIVITY and ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE IN AMERICAN CITIZENS and therefore the exceptions cited in the statute do not apply. They use the following arguments and the question is – do you agree and do you consider the HSUS credible '”EXPERTS” as the Supreme Court does – to present data for consideration on this Statute? So - in other words if you are going to form a protest letter to the Supreme Court, you should know what are you protesting. Specific. So the following are some of the allegations of the HSUS made in this case. Not concerning my films and writing – ALL Pit Bull or bully breed films and writing that after they win this case they can use to prosecute. They use my work as example. The following are statements made to the Supreme Court Judges – the question is do you agree? If not please express your contribution. Do not make any unprofessional comments or it will be ignored. Do not make any statement the HSUS can claim is “hearsay”, or represent radical statements by Pit Bull fanatics - only documented facts.
The prosecutors in the case are, sadly, the American Gov't (USDA), but they are influenced and misled by HSUS. HSUS was accepted by the court as “experts” and invited to submit relevant testimony as ”amicus curiae” (friends of the court), because they instructed the court they are “the nation's largest non-profit animal protection organization with more than 10 million members and that their mission is to protect animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and filed work.” They note that they have been “used as “amicus” in numerous animal protection issues.”
I should be noted that Animal Canine Foundation (ACF) has also been accepted in courts to file “amicus” as a rebuttal exposing HSUS and in February of 2008 ACF was accepted by the Supreme Court as amicus in another case as a rebuttal to HSUS.
HSUS claims that any depiction that shows an animal in fighting mode is on the same level as child porn and therefore detrimental to society and not protected by the first amendment. Do you agree?
HSUS repeatedly refer to the catch work in my Catch Dog film and booklet as “dogs violently attacking helpless pigs”. Actually the primary motif of my film/booklet is training the young dog to catch (by the ear) to minimize harm to both dog and hog. What do you think? Do you agree that HSUS should be allowed to make films and writing or any other depiction about catch work a felon? According to the Statute any depiction such as a dog catching a hog is akin to child pornography, detrimental to the integrity of America and should be a felon. If they win your magazines become illegal. Will you stand and fight? Write a letter. Deadline – now!
HSUS claims “videotapes MEMORIALIZING dogfights are integral to the success of this criminal industry.” They claim that it is nearly impossible to catch and convict dog fighters because they are so secretive and the only way to fight the activity is to “dry up the watering hole – films depicting the activity.” They claim that young people exposed to such depraved animal cruelty tend to become violent criminals – and cite a “study” to document this. The study is an old one that found serial and other violent criminals engaged in activities like pulling the legs of bugs when children. Personally, I think that hunting has been part of our culture since our founding and boys and girls have hunted with their father since, often, age ten. I do not see this has resulted in violent criminals in our country. What do you think?
HSUS has marketed a video entitled “Unleashed” that depicts horrible very gory dog fighting scenes – while they ask for donations. The gov't and HSUS refer to this work as deserving of first amendment protection for the quality of the work and its educational benefit. My films edited out blood and rough scenes. Do you agree their work is legal but that an historical documentary is a felon? HSUS has also produced a Catch Dog video depicting hogs being caught. The sound effects emphasize the hogs squealing and their comments the poor pigs are shrieking in pain – I found it googling HSUS and Pit Bulls. Do you agree with this? I am not a farmer, but I have noticed hogs squeal all day long in the pen while they squabble.
The feds dressed all in black including black ski masks, attacked our home in the dead of night (six years ago), hollering and screaming and threatening my disabled wife, Julie, with assault rifles while she cried and trembled with fear. What does the constitution of the United States say about that? I am by far not the only one and this type of violence toward the Pit Bull community generated by HSUS is escalating – and if you don’t complain – the Supreme Court Judges will never even know about it. Got anything you want to say about it?
If just one Pit Bull club or other breed, from EVERY STATE IN THE UNION will write a letter – it will show the Supreme Court that a SIGNIFICANT SEGMENT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS believe they should have a right under the first amendment, not to cruel bloody depiction – but to quality documentaries about their breed or hunting. Show the Supreme Court that the NATION believes in the first amendment and that judges should not legislate – and judges should not change the constitution. Actually, it is QUANTITY that matters, not content. They will only peruse the letters – but quantity – EVERY STATE IN THE NATION - THAT SHOULD IMPRESS.
All this is lengthy and if you are going to respond and want me to forward a copy of the brief HSUS will file in a couple weeks, request and I will forward. IF you write, please do so in a professional manner. Keep in mind these judges believe very much in HSUS. I f your letter sounds like some radical Pit Bull organization sounding off – you will only fortify that feeling. However, if you have solid documented data that can contradict the legality of the claims made by HSUS – that is what can help the breed. The harsh reality of the situation is that the judges have a mind set totally geared to the LEGAL ISSUES ONLY. They do not care if HSUS is a good organization or a bad organization and don't want to be used as a sounding board – that type of narration they will just toss. They want to hear about the legality of the Statute - period. Should you write, address your letter to The Supreme Court of the Untied States and mail it to:
But please do not send ME links to HSUS stuff – I am getting BOMBARDED with them! It is the Gov’t that needs to be informed. Send a letter to the gov’t.
Deadline – HSUS files its brief June 15. – we then have less than a month to respond. On purpose, they arranged to push it. After first week of July, too late as it stands now.
The Animal Canine Foundation with a copy to:
23969 Northeast State Route 3 Patricia Millett
Suite G 101 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Belfair WA 98528 Robert S. Strauss Bldg.
1333 New Hampshire Avenue N.W.
Washington D. C. 20036 – 1564
In Christ,
Bob Stevens
Col 3:15-17