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Bill Making Bestiality Illegal Approved By State Committee

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2009

A proposal that would make it a felony to have sex with animals passed out of its first state House committee today.

Lawmakers voted 15-0 in favor of the bill, which would make bestiality a third-degree felony. Current Florida law doesn't specifically prohibit sexual activity between people and animals.

The state Senate already has passed the bestiality bill through one committee stop.

The bestiality bill includes anyone who would "knowingly organize, promote, conduct, advertise, aid, abet, participate in as an observer, or performing any service" to further the act of bestiality.

Last year, state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, and St. Petersburg lawmaker Frank Peterman sponsored the bill, but it died in committee. At the time, Rich said bestiality is a serious crime that deserves strong consequences and that she thinks there is a direct correlation between animal abuse and child abuse.

The bestiality bill was pitched to Peterman at the behest of the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society, Rich said last year.

"Animal sexual abusers defend their actions by claiming their victims consent, even though these acts usually require physical restraint," a House bill analysis states. "This is similar to adult sexual activity with a child where consent is presumed to be impossible. Animals are unable to communicate consent, or speak out about the abuse.

"Not all cases of animal sexual abuse involve physical injury to the animal, but sexual molestation of an animal by a human is classified as abuse. Psychologists have found that bestiality is harmful even in cases when physical harm to an animal does not occur."

The bestiality bill doesn't apply to "accepted animal husbandry practices or accepted veterinary medical practices," the bill states.

If passed, the bill would take effect Oct. 1.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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