At the risk of putting myself in a position where I might be perceived as defending Vick, why is this a federal case?
Did something (dogs, people, money?) cross state lines? There are FEDERAL dog-fighting laws?? Or is it FEDERAL animal-cruelty laws?
I think there are too many FEDERAL laws.
At the risk of putting myself in a position where I might be perceived as defending Vick, why is this a federal case?
Did something (dogs, people, money?) cross state lines?
Yes. That's exactly why it's a federal case. From Fox Sports:
The two statutes he has been charged with conspiring to violate are 1) participating in dogfighting across state lines and 2) traveling across state lines for the purpose of gambling (this is known as violating the "Travel Act").
I agree that there are too many federal laws (and that too many times federal charges are filed solely because the states failed to get a conviction, which seems like double-jeopardy to me), but criminal enterprises that span several states ought to be prosecuted by the Feds.
It’s a Federal case becaue it allegedly involveds an interstate dog fighting racket. There’s a link to the indictment at the right side of the article; it should give you all the info you need.
1) The dogs were purchased from other states.
2) The dogs travelled to other states to fight.
3) The dogs fought dogs from other states.
Doesn’t take much to get the Feds involved anymore.
Agreed on the abuse of the commerce clause though. It’s used way too much to allow the Feds to get involved in a states’ business.
Vick better hope his attorneys can somehow get the initial search thrown out, or he’s screwed.