Josh Sugarmann

Josh Sugarmann

Posted: August 19, 2009 02:12 PM

Why Does the NRA Hate Puppies?

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Does the NRA support puppy mills?

That's the question asked earlier this year by Miami Herald general assignment reporter Ellie Brecher in the newspaper's blog Crazy for Critters citing the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS):

2009-08-18-dogandgunII.JPG

The Humane Society writes:

The National Rifle Association says it's about defense of the Second Amendment. But more and more, it's about doing harm to man's best friend.


In the 2009 legislation session, the gun group has been going state to state setting its sights on public policies that would crack down on abusive puppy mills. They actively lobbied against an Arizona bill requiring that puppy mill producers are subject to inspections by county enforcement agents at any time during regular business hours. They are working hard in Indiana and Minnesota to derail bills that would limit the number of dogs confined in puppy mill cages and set basic standards of care for exercise, flooring, and veterinary treatment. The Arizona and Minnesota bills have been shelved, and an NRA-backed amendment would gut Indiana's legislation.

It's a mystery why the NRA cares so much about defending the status quo when it comes to puppy mills. It can't be a core issue for gun owners. The NRA claims that the puppy mill bills would impact hunting dogs, but surely most sportsmen would want their dogs raised humanely by responsible breeders, not treated like a cash crop. A dog who lives in a filthy wire cage with no exercise, socialization, or human interaction might not end up being a very good hunting partner out in the field, after all.

It may just be that the NRA has a knee-jerk opposition to any animal protection issue, no matter how modest or common-sense.

Not so fast there. Think about it. We already license and register dogs. So how much longer will it be before we face total dog confiscation? Well, according to the NRA, if the anti-freedom, er, anti-puppy mill lobby has its way, not long. Not long at all.

In a July 2009 alert to its members about a puppy mill bill (SB 460) it eventually derailed in North Carolina, the NRA displays the leaden efficiency of using a time-proven template to combat regulation. Any type of regulation. Guns. Dogs. You name it. In the text below, just replace "dog breeder" with "gun dealer." Or "gun show promoter." Or "gun manufacturer." It may sound a little, well, familiar.

SB 460 requires "commercial dog breeders" to be licensed, then subject to regulations and inspections. But if you operate a facility that has "overcrowded and cruel" conditions, you likely know this is the case, and simply would not apply for a license. No license means no regulations and no periodic inspections. In other words, the same laws that are currently on the books to target true animal cruelty are the only ones that would apply to investigating an unlicensed "commercial dog breeder."


On the other hand, those responsible dog breeders (which are the vast majority of them) that do comply with the licensing requirement, should SB 460 become law, may find themselves regulated out of business. The bill states that certain standards must be met, but does not spell them out. Instead, it allows a bureaucratic rules process for setting the standards, using vague, subjective terms for stating what those standards will be. The terms 'adequate' and 'appropriate' are used, which have widely different meanings, depending on the application and who is doing the applying. You can bet HSUS [Humane Society of the United States] operatives will try to influence the rules process to implement the most draconian rules possible in order to promote its anti-breeder agenda.

And to finish out the exercise, just replace Humane Society of the United States with "Obama" or "gun control."

Talk about crazy critters.

 
 
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You see Josh, here's something you may not understand.

People have these things called rights and privileges. Some may generalize them as liberties.

There are groups dedicated to defending these liberties.

These groups often oppose seemingly harmless legislation that creates bureaucratic agencies with very broad discretion that could potentially infringe on those liberties.

Consider yourself educated.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:13 PM on 08/24/2009
- djcrsn I'm a Fan of djcrsn 18 fans permalink

Sugarmann is not interested in being educated--he posts trying to get guns banned

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:18 PM on 08/28/2009

The NRA does not hate puppies. I am an NRA member and I have owned dogs (and puppies) my entire life. (Actually, hunters are one of the largest groups of dog owners. Ergo the NRA's interest in dog breeding legislation.)

The problem with the North Carolina bill was that it imposed registration and licensing requirements, but didn't actually do anything to address abusive treatment of animals. So, a small dog breeder faces a potential fine if it doesn't get licensed under the statute (even if the breeder doesn't know about the statute), but a large, abusvie, corner-cutting commercial operator who DOES register...is "legal."

This is why the American Veterinary Medicine Association and the American Kennel Club were among the lobbying groups -- including the NRA -- who opposed the bill. The AKC and the AVMA do not hate puppies -- quite the opposite.

My Mom is a veterinarian who was involved in prosecuting a puppy mill in Washington state several years ago. She provided expert testimony to show that the animals were abused. She also helped place a number fo the dogs in home. This is because she is not a HSUS/PETA extremist who thinks that dogs are oppressed because they are domesticated. HSUS -- a MUCH more accurate term than "Humane Society" -- is the organization that lied and raised funds by saying it would place the Vick dogs in homes, but then recommended that they be euthanized instead.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:14 AM on 08/24/2009
- OldSFMJT I'm a Fan of OldSFMJT 11 fans permalink
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It isn't the NRA, GOA & hunters that puppies have to fear! It's HSUS & PETA - outfits that make common cause with the likes of Josh - which puppies have reason to fear. Remember the PETA scandal here in Eastern NC where PETA was collecting otherwise adoptable kittens & puppies, telling veterinarians & shelters that they were going to adopt them out, only to go behind the nearest store, kill the animals & dump their bodies in a handy dumpster?!?!
Old SF MJT

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:13 PM on 08/25/2009
- Dimensio I'm a Fan of Dimensio 22 fans permalink

The fundamental flaw of this editorial is that it was authored by Mr. Sugarmann. As Mr. Sugarmann is known to be a demonstrable liar, and as he speaks for an organization that openly acknowledges engaging in dishonest tactics as a means of attaing support for their stated agenda, the editoral possesses no credibility.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:33 PM on 08/23/2009

Lets see how many times I have to post this before it shows up...

the NRA supports puppy mills about as much as the AKC does. Who by the way, is also against this legislation. But be sure to leave that little fact out of your story, will ya...

The legislation was baddly written and effected just about everyone except the scum bag puppy mills.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:29 PM on 08/21/2009
- Jadegold I'm a Fan of Jadegold 7 fans permalink

Just for once, I'd like to see a quote provided by the founders that stated everyone--regardless of criminal record, mental instability, lack of training , substance abuse problems and/or physical incapacity--is entitled to own whatever firearm they please.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:09 AM on 08/21/2009
- twogunmojo I'm a Fan of twogunmojo 28 fans permalink

just for once i would like to see something other than rhetoric from the anti-gun side....such as a quote from a founding father that i do not have the right of self defense.....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:43 PM on 08/21/2009
- kaveman4 I'm a Fan of kaveman4 3 fans permalink

Okie Dokie...

"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

-Thomas Jefferson

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:15 PM on 08/21/2009
- twogunmojo I'm a Fan of twogunmojo 28 fans permalink

just once i would like to see a quote from the anti-gunners by the founding fathers which states that the common person has no right to be safe or free from harm and has no right to defend themselves in their home or on their travels from others seeking to deprive them of life or property...and if a woman has sole jurisdiction over what is done to her body then by default that must include the right to defend it from harm with whatever means is best suited to her....or are the anti-gunners really anti-woman....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:52 AM on 08/21/2009
- Jadegold I'm a Fan of Jadegold 7 fans permalink

Thirdpower and Etbmfa are trying to push the line that HSUS takes in a great deal of money, yet spends little on animal programs.

One can go to the HSUS website and download their IRS filings and financial reports. The mission of HSUS is not so much to provide direct services to animals--their primary mission is to influence legislation (or lobby) for standards and legal protections for animals.

As a charity, they receive the highest rating from independent charity ratings organizations.


Much of ETBmfa's "info" is lifted from a group called "consumerfreedom."

The Center for Consumer Freedom provides no financial data; in fact, they don't even list who works for them or who their leadership is.

http://www.consumerdeception.com/

According to multiple sources, Consumer Freedom is a front group for the alcohol and tobacco industries. They rail against PETA (and HSUS) but also have attacked MADD for pushing for lower BAC limits for drivers.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:38 PM on 08/20/2009
- twogunmojo I'm a Fan of twogunmojo 28 fans permalink

"Not so fast there. Think about it. We already license and register dogs. So how much longer will it be before we face total dog confiscation? Well, according to the NRA, if the anti-freedom, er, anti-puppy mill lobby has its way, not long. Not long at all".......
i don't know where you live josh but my dogs are not licensed or registered with any agency.....when are you coming to arrest me...let me know and i will kill a goat and we can have barbecue.......and why are you afraid of actual conversation as opposed to rhetoric......

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:08 PM on 08/20/2009
- Vickster I'm a Fan of Vickster 16 fans permalink
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If your dogs have rabies tags, they've been licensed and registered with a state agency. At least that's how it's done where I live.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:50 PM on 08/20/2009
- twogunmojo I'm a Fan of twogunmojo 28 fans permalink

what part of not registered and not licensed did you not understand.....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:32 AM on 08/21/2009
- Rondo I'm a Fan of Rondo 28 fans permalink
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Credit

Photo of dog with gun to his head is from early National Lampoon Cover with the words, "If you don't buy this issue we'll shoot the dog."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:42 PM on 08/20/2009
- Queenhuh I'm a Fan of Queenhuh 15 fans permalink
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Outstanding!! Confiscation of guns is perfect! Would love to see all owners of guns, criminals and "I won't part with my gun" individuals turn them on themselves. That way, the rest of us can truly feel safe. As to to confiscation of dogs? Why not? Dog ownership has become nothing but another huge materialistic shopping program for the consumer. I work in rescues and it's a nightmare. The number of poor dogs that have to be killed annually is horrific due to irresponsible human animals. Most people feed their dogs slaughterhouse feed, another reason to prohibit domesticated dogs and cats. Go for it.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:47 PM on 08/20/2009
- Rondo I'm a Fan of Rondo 28 fans permalink
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leave my cat out of it

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:50 PM on 08/20/2009
- Vickster I'm a Fan of Vickster 16 fans permalink
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Huh?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:53 PM on 08/20/2009

How does 2 out of 3 sound?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:16 PM on 08/22/2009
- Rondo I'm a Fan of Rondo 28 fans permalink
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/nyregion/21shoot.html?hp

- must read for NRA membership

sorry, article has nothing to do with puppies

its about the long term consequences for registered gun owners who discharge their weapons under justifiable circumstances

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:47 PM on 08/20/2009
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Total dog confiscation? Apples to oranges here.

We all know that in Britain, Canada, Australia, registration led to confiscation, even though those governments promised they wouldn't.

Vladimir Lenin : "A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device
to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie."

This is the ultimate goal, gun confiscation by the left...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:44 AM on 08/20/2009
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I'm impressed that the NRA has time to find new arguments to be on the wrong side of.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:27 AM on 08/20/2009
- Falafel I'm a Fan of Falafel 9 fans permalink
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Any possibility of putting all NRA members in puppy mills? Let them live in a cage, in their own filth, stacked on top of each other and eventually turning on each other in order to survive.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:18 AM on 08/20/2009
- Sean 6399 I'm a Fan of Sean 6399 33 fans permalink

That's why they believe in the second amendment. So that they can object when leftists come to round them up for the cages.

And you prove with your commentary that they are wise to arm themselves.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:13 PM on 08/20/2009
- COPerez I'm a Fan of COPerez 59 fans permalink
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Looks like you need to check a dictionary: try "sarcasm."

When you're done with that, have a look at "irony."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:14 PM on 08/20/2009
- kaveman4 I'm a Fan of kaveman4 3 fans permalink

"Any possibility of putting all NRA members in puppy mills? Let them live in a cage, in their own filth, stacked on top of each other and eventually turning on each other in order to survive."

Why would we turn on each other when we could instead band together and shoot the ones trying to stuff us into a cage?

Or are you in agreement with Kelli when she stated that the Jews who stood up to Hitler in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising were wrong to defend themselves against the Nazis?

Just wondering.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:21 PM on 08/21/2009
- feo I'm a Fan of feo 30 fans permalink

Gun nuts, the NRA and the Gun Owners of America hate the second amendment. If they respected it as they say they do, they would all be members of "well-regulated militias" as specified in that historically misread amendment.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:16 AM on 08/20/2009

Please....... If they all did join "well -regulated millitias", you would still call them crazy.. Just look at the article that was posted on here a week or so ago talking about the rise in the number of people joining millitias........ Then, most on here called them all "anti Government" as well...... Lumping everyone that belongs to one as somekind of "wacko"...... But of course that is the way the article was written up anyway......

Face the fact that anti gun people will never like pro gun people and just leave it at that...... Evryone is going to interpret things the way THEY want them to be.......

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:02 PM on 08/20/2009
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