Vicki
Administrator
Jacksonville woman thinks legislation is needed
The incidents were enough to make some citizens stand up and call for legislation on the breed. Susan Walczak, who manages City Pawn Shop in Jacksonville, started a petition to train potential owners of pit bulls after the incident involving Justin Clinton.
“I read the story about Justin and that was kind of the last straw for us,†Ms. Walczak said. “We started the petition to where if someone wants to own a pit bull, they would need to go through a training course where they are educated on how to raise one.
“Once they go through training, they would be certified to own a pit bull. If they get the certificate and choose to let them run loose, they could be held responsible for whatever happens.â€
Ms. Walczak said that the breed could be compared to a firearm in their capabilities of force.
“Pit bulls are just like firearms,†she said. “If you don’t know how to use it and you’re not trained to use it, someone could get hurt or killed. With pit bulls, you have to be aware of their capabilities. They have such deadly force. They can take you down in a split second and that’s it.â€
A clipping of the story about the death of Justin Clinton can be found near the petition at the counter at all times.
“So many people have read it that the clipping is just about torn up,†Ms. Walczak said.
Ms. Walczak said that the petition currently has well over 400 signatures.
“We were told that we had to have at least 300 signatures, but we’re well past that,†she said. “The petition has been split off into two more and, eventually, we plan to take them to Sen. (Robert) Nichols (R-Jacksonville) to try to get some kind of law passed.â€
About the breed
Pit bull is actually a term used to describe several breeds of dog, including the American Pit Bull, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Studies about the danger of pit bull attacks vary greatly since there are so many varying breeds, but a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2000 found data that stated that “Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF (dog bite-related fatalities) in the United States between 1997 and 1998.â€
Several cities in the United States currently have an outright ban on pit bulls, including Denver, Colo.; Kansas City, Mo. and Miami, Fla. However, the ban in Denver is being challenged and the ban in Miami is currently not enforced because it has been deemed too vague in its definition of a pit bull.
In Texas and several other states, dog owners can be convicted on felony charges if their dog attacks another person and causes serious injury or death.
Ms. Walczak said that her petition is not looking to ban the breed, but merely hopes that owners will raise their dogs the right way.
“A good portion of the people who have signed our petition own pit bulls,†she said. “Those owners don’t want extremists who don’t control their dog. If they’re raised right, they can be good dogs, but you have to contain them.â€
http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2009/0902/front_page/002.html
The incidents were enough to make some citizens stand up and call for legislation on the breed. Susan Walczak, who manages City Pawn Shop in Jacksonville, started a petition to train potential owners of pit bulls after the incident involving Justin Clinton.
“I read the story about Justin and that was kind of the last straw for us,†Ms. Walczak said. “We started the petition to where if someone wants to own a pit bull, they would need to go through a training course where they are educated on how to raise one.
“Once they go through training, they would be certified to own a pit bull. If they get the certificate and choose to let them run loose, they could be held responsible for whatever happens.â€
Ms. Walczak said that the breed could be compared to a firearm in their capabilities of force.
“Pit bulls are just like firearms,†she said. “If you don’t know how to use it and you’re not trained to use it, someone could get hurt or killed. With pit bulls, you have to be aware of their capabilities. They have such deadly force. They can take you down in a split second and that’s it.â€
A clipping of the story about the death of Justin Clinton can be found near the petition at the counter at all times.
“So many people have read it that the clipping is just about torn up,†Ms. Walczak said.
Ms. Walczak said that the petition currently has well over 400 signatures.
“We were told that we had to have at least 300 signatures, but we’re well past that,†she said. “The petition has been split off into two more and, eventually, we plan to take them to Sen. (Robert) Nichols (R-Jacksonville) to try to get some kind of law passed.â€
About the breed
Pit bull is actually a term used to describe several breeds of dog, including the American Pit Bull, the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Studies about the danger of pit bull attacks vary greatly since there are so many varying breeds, but a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2000 found data that stated that “Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF (dog bite-related fatalities) in the United States between 1997 and 1998.â€
Several cities in the United States currently have an outright ban on pit bulls, including Denver, Colo.; Kansas City, Mo. and Miami, Fla. However, the ban in Denver is being challenged and the ban in Miami is currently not enforced because it has been deemed too vague in its definition of a pit bull.
In Texas and several other states, dog owners can be convicted on felony charges if their dog attacks another person and causes serious injury or death.
Ms. Walczak said that her petition is not looking to ban the breed, but merely hopes that owners will raise their dogs the right way.
“A good portion of the people who have signed our petition own pit bulls,†she said. “Those owners don’t want extremists who don’t control their dog. If they’re raised right, they can be good dogs, but you have to contain them.â€
http://www.thecherokeean.com/news/2009/0902/front_page/002.html