Posted on 07/31/2002 8:47:35 PM PDT by TheEaglehasLanded
Sexual Assault of Animals Now Illegal in Illinois
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
By The Leader-Springfield Bureau
Governor Ryan has signed into law a bill making sexual assault of animals illegal in Illinois. SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George Ryan signed a sexual assault bill into law last Thursday, with two new provisions to prosecute sexual crimes. One section of the new law is raising eyebrows.
One provision of the new law makes it a Class 4 felony to engage in sexual conduct with an animal. If the act is done in the presence of a minor, or the animal suffers physical injury, it becomes a Class 3 felony, resulting in one to three years of imprisonment plus mandated psychological counseling.
"Most people thought that it was already illegal to have sex with animals in Illinois, but it wasn't," said Ledy VanKavage, legislative director for the Illinois branch of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
"We have heard from veterinarians throughout the state that they are developing 'rape kits' for animals that have been sexually-assaulted by humans. This is a growing problem and it is more widespread than most people know," VanKavage said.
The problem involves the use of the internet. "We know that this problem is now spreading to minors, as they obtain information off the internet about how to have sex with animals." VanKavage said. "One little girl we heard of did an internet search on 'turtle love.' What she found was a whole manual on how to have sex with turtles."
"We find it appalling that libraries and schools are not filtering out information like this on their computers," Kathy Valente, State Director of Concerned Women for America (CWA) said today.
Conservative groups such as CWA, Eagle Forum of Illinois and Citizens for Community Values worked with animal rights groups and law enforcement representatives, such as the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County States Attorney, to get this bill into law. The APSCA worked to form a diverse coalition supporting the legislation.
Sponsors of the legislation endured ridicule while the bill was on the floor of the House. Rep. Bill Black (R-Danville)and Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville) were the House sponsors. The legislation passed easily in the House.
According to the ASPCA, it was difficult to find a state senator who would sponsor the legislation because of the awkwardness of the topic. The sponsors were Senator "Tony" Munoz (D-Chicago) Senator Adeline Geo-Karis (R-Zion) and the lead sponsor was Senator Patrick O'Malley (R-Palos Park). The legislation passed the Senate easily, as well.
Along with 1-3 years of imprisonment for sexually assaulting an animal, the courts will mandate psychological counseling for those found guilty.
"There are reports of this type of perversion happening throughout the nation," Valente said. "This new law will finally provide a way for Illinois prosecutors to stop this activity. We hope that not only will innocent animals be protected from sexual predators, but that our law enforcement community will step up their protection of children who are sexually abused, as well."
A second provision in the new law will make it an aggravated criminal sexual assault to use a dangerous weapon other than a firearm while committing a rape.
Citizen activist Jonathan Forbes of Alton pointed out the problem to his local legislator, "When I discovered that it was an aggravated criminal sexual assault to use a gun when committing a rape, and the punishment wasn't as severe when a knife was used during the crime, I pointed out the discrepency to my state representative, Steve Davis."
Forbes said that Davis agreed that the punishment should be consistent when a dangerous weapon of any type was used, and Davis moved to correct the problem. "We worked very hard to create a bi-partisan coalition on this bill, and believe that this will be an additional deterrent," Forbes said today.
Forbes, who says he works with both parties and both conservatives and liberals, says that he believes what is often left out of the process is common sense. He encourages citizens to get involved in the political process, and to "keep moving" to promote good legislation.
This is a joke, right?
/ wiseguy mode off.
Soooo, if the turtle escapes from the ...uh...engagement unscathed, it's a Class 4 felony, but if her shell is broken, it's a Class 3 (with jail time)? What a world.
...."I've been down, since I began to crawl..."
...."If it wasn't for bad luck......I wouldn't have no luck at all...."
Remember the ads showing scantily clad women seductively carressing dogs? How about the ads showing sexily dressed children and academicians calling for "intergenerational sex?"
All we have to do is remember Greece and Rome, and remember what happened to their civilizations when they indulged in "sexual liberation." Now I'm no prude by any stretch, but where in the hell are we heading? What's the "next horizon?"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.