Carolyn Woodruff should be interested to know that she can support both Measure 5 and future state legislation to strengthen animal cruelty laws. (“Good ND law needed to protect all animals,” Oct. 5).
Measure 5 would enact an animal cruelty law that would make it a felony to harm a dog, cat or horse by anyone of several horrific means such as decapitation, disemboweling or setting on fire; it is separate from the existing weak, animal cruelty code, which can easily be improved after Measure 5 passes.
Measure 5 was carefully drafted to protect the animals most commonly abused while exempting agriculture, hunting, rodeo and other cherished North Dakota traditions.
Ballot initiatives are protected from legislative meddling for a period of seven years. Yet, the existing animal cruelty law will still be on the books.
The state Legislature will still be able to amend the existing animal cruelty with a simple majority vote. That’s because Measure 5 and the existing cruelty statute will be two different laws. If Measure 5 doesn’t pass, Woodruff and other Measure 5 critics will find it much harder to pass their preferred animal cruelty law.
A defeat for Measure 5 will tell the politicians in Bismarck that North Dakotans don’t want strong animal cruelty laws.
A yes vote is a win-win as it will make sure dogs, cats and horses get protection immediately while showing there is strong support for the law that Woodruff’s coalition is supporting.
Christina Araiza, Dickinson
Tags: opinion, letter, letters
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