Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, October 26, 2007
(STATEHOUSE) - It might become a bigger crime to be caught watching animals fight, if one state lawmaker gets his way.
Senator Jim Arnold (D-Michigan City)wants to toughen the penalties for spectators. Arnold has filed a bill that will now go through the 2008 general session to try and give some teeth to the current animal fighting laws in Indiana.
Arnold says while people who run dog fighting rings face serious jail time and fines, spectators often are harder to catch. His proposal would make it a Class C felony and a conviction could mean several years behind bars and thousands in fines.
Arnold says he is already gaining support for the legislation. Arnold has been concerned about this issue for a long time and says the Michael Vick scandal brought it to the forefront.
Indianapolis and other communities are taking steps to crack down on dog and other types of animal fighting.
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