“To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the penalties for animal crushing, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section increases the maximum penalties for violations of the prohibition on animal crush videos (i.e., depictions of intentional crushing, burning, drowning, or other abuse of non-ambulatory animals for sexual gratification). Specifically, it sets imprisonment for a first offense at not more than 10 years (from 7 years) and for a second or subsequent offense at not more than 15 years, plus fines under title 18 in either case.
This section establishes a new federal criminal offense (18 U.S.C. §48A) prohibiting whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or on federal land, knowingly abandons a domesticated animal or commits an act of violence that endangers a domesticated animal. Violators are subject to fines, imprisonment for up to 10 years for a first offense or up to 15 years for a second or subsequent offense, or both. The provision excludes specified activities (e.g., veterinary or agricultural practices, slaughter for food, hunting, research, or euthanasia) and defines domesticated animal as a living non-human mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian kept for pleasure or commercial purposes.