Hoping that Europe do the same!

The Supreme Court looks at videos of animal victims of cruelty The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider a request by animal rights activists and the department American Justice, who want to see elevated to a crime the sale of videos featuring animal victims of cruelty. The Ministry and the American Society for Protection of Animals asked the Supreme Court for reconsideration of the decision of an appellate court which had quashed a trial in inhumane treatment of animals. The appellate court had declared unconstitutional the law that allowed a conviction on the grounds that it restricts freedom of expression, protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This law, enacted in 1999, had to charge Robert Stevens for selling videos of fights pitbulls. The accused, from Pennsyvlanie, was sentenced to 37 months in prison. "The court (of appeal of Philadelphia) had concluded that the videos in question were protected by the First Amendment and that the federal government had no reason to doubt that prohibit freedom of expression, "said the adviser Legal Society of animal protection, Jonathan Lovvorn. However, "it is not words, only the cruelty to animals, and the government has a compelling interest in prevent cruelty to animals, "he argued. The Supreme Court will address this issue in the fall or next winter, he added. (belga) 20/04/09 21h03