Revised: August 9 2012, 21:09 GMT
They have caught themselves in a metaphysical riddle that only the Mad Hatter could solve; they clearly know how to identify a pit bull.
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To: Maryland Legislative Task Force on Pit Bulls
Dear Senators and Delegates,
Several members of the task force have voiced concerns about identifying pit bulls. This issue is one of the first smokescreens used by advocates of fighting breeds, and one of the easiest to resolve.
Over three hundred and fifty United States municipalities have ordinances restricting pit bulls and other fighting breeds; many of these laws (if not all) contain language which defines a pit bull. These laws have been tested in the courts and in Washington state the definition has withstood challenges up to the Supreme Court. The Duhaime Legal Dictionary offers legal precedents on the definitions of pit bulls, and we have copied below definitions from Omaha NE and Yakima WA. There is no need to rediscover the wheel.
The members of the Maryland Task Force have been flooded with input from pit bull advocates and insurance lobbyists. One of their most common handouts is the ubiquitous "Find The Pit Bull" test, which is used to instill doubt about identifying a pit bull. This visual prop has been discredited but is still widely distributed.
The advocates of fighting breeds argue, on the one hand, that pit bulls are difficult if not impossible to identify. They have caught themselves in a metaphysical riddle that only the Mad Hatter could solve, for they clearly know how to identify a pit bull.
The advocates of fighting breeds are part of a well-organized and heavily financed minority. Recent polls have shown that 60% or more of the population do not want to live next door to a pit bull. HSUS and other animal welfare institutions have been slow to acknowledge that pit bulls have been bred differently, and remain different in significant ways. And the advocates have steadfastly refused to acknowledge the grief and suffering fighting breeds have caused; they remain immune to it. If you have the courage to withstand the onslaught of advocacy Maryland's grateful citizens will applaud you.
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Definitions:
Omaha NE Municipal Code Section 6-163
For purposes of this section, pit bull shall be defined as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, DogoArgentina, Presa Canario, Cane Corso, American Bulldog, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds (more so than any other breed), or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds.
Yakima WA Municipal Code Section 6-18
18.010 Definitions
"Pit bull dog" means any pit bull terrier. "Pit bull terrier" means any American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog or any mixed breed of dog which contains as an element of its breeding the breed of American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier so as to be identifiable as partially of the breed American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog or American Staffordshire terrier.(Ord. 2004-32 § 1, 2004: Ord. 2001-32 § 1, 2001: Ord. 98-27 § 1, 1998: Ord.3034 § 1 (part), 1987).
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Notes:
Source: WUSA9, Fox6, Springfield: / Pit Bull Attacks Raise Questions About Dog Breed
Related post: SRUV's version of Find the Pit Bull
Google News: Today's pit bull attacks in the US