Is Michael Vick Representing Nike Again
Michael Vick was Wrongly Bedevilled!
Since this past Monday and more than specifically for the majority of the Philadelphia Eagles sensational season, I accept heard and so many people touting Michael Vick. Oh yeah, "Michael Vick has really turned it around, " etc.
And now, Barrack Obama, the President of the United states of america, the de facto leader of the Gratis World, thought information technology would be a good thought to chirp in and toss a footling praise his way also past taking the time to make a telephone call (while on vacation in Hawaii) to the possessor of the Eagles and commend him for giving Vick a 2d run a risk.
Actually!?!?
(Here's your class act role model Mr. President)
I call back anyone who thinks that Michael Vick has paid his debt and is a reformed private needs to take a little walk down memory lane and remind themselves simply what this and then-called man was engaged in and willfully perpetrated.
Hither are the facts:
* Michael Vick was a REGISTERED dog breeder.
* April 24, 2007: Michael Vick's cousin, Davon Boddie, was arrested in Hampton, Va., on drug charges, leading police to obtain a warrant to search his home (owned by Vick) for other drugs and paraphernalia.
* April 25, 2007: While serving the search warrant, constabulary discovered show of an alleged dogfighting operation, including rape stands, pry bars, treadmills modified for dog preparation, and a claret-stained carpet. Fauna-command officers also removed 66 dogs from the property, 55 of which were pit bulls.
* Vick and his co-defendants began the dogfighting operation in early 2001.
* Fights staged on the Surry County premises had purses of as much as $xx,000 or more at times.
* The formation of Bad Newz Kennels and testing of the dogs began in early on 2002. According to the indictment, one of the dogs did non fight well and was shot to decease with a .22 caliber pistol.
* In March 2003, after a pit bull from Bad Newz Kennels lost in a fight, it was executed by wetting it with h2o and electrocuting it.
* In Apr 2007, approximately eight dogs that did not perform well in testing were killed by "hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."
Here is what Virginia law provides in terms of sentencing for animal cruelty related crimes:
In Virginia, a start offense that does not result in the death of an animal is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of twelve months or less and a fine of up to $2500 or both. A person committing a second crime, or if the brute dies every bit a result of the first offense, is guilty of a Grade six felony, punishable by upwardly to five years in prison or, in the alternative, a prison house sentence of less than a year or a maximum fine of $2500 or both. In addition, the owner of a dog or cat injured or killed as a consequence of cruelty is entitled to a harm award for the value of the beast or the damage done.
Just so we're clear, Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months and served 18. Hmm. Now, I am no math wizard, but that seems quite short of the potential maximum. Oh, and he did have to pay a $5,000 fine and another $100 in administration fees.
Why, you enquire? Because Michael Vick was not convicted according the Virginia Animal Cruelty laws. Instead he was indicted in Federal Courtroom and pled guilty to i (ane), I repeat, one count of "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fight Venture". An criminal offense that carries a ii to five year sentence. I am going to say this again considering it's of import: 'Vick was sentenced to 23 months and served xviii months'. Again, not quite two years and certainly short of the five year maximum sentence. Simply again, this is only for one count or crime. So no Mr. President, Michael Vick has Non paid his debt to society. Just, then once again, your Secretary of the Treasury is an admitted revenue enhancement evader. Information technology must be overnice to view correct and wrong from your perspective.
One count. This is unbelievable. Betwixt 2001 and 2007 Michael Vick sponsored dogs in 11 fights. Additionally, he traveled to four states to buy eleven dogs. Again, could this not be construed as 22 counts? Even with Vick's meager sentencing this would accept equated to 396 months or 33 YEARS!! And even at an absolute minimum, why was he not charged with four counts of the incredibly weak "Conspiracy…"?
But better yet, if he had been truly tried co-ordinate to Virginia's Animal Cruelty Laws he could have been tried for twenty dog fights and nine executions. SIXTY FIVE YEARS! Instead, he was once again allowed to plead out (while serving out his Federal judgement) to I count of canis familiaris fighting (the unmarried Animal Cruelty accuse was dropped as a role of the plea understanding) and received a three year suspended judgement for time served on the Federal charges. The prosecutor (Virginia's Surry County Commonwealth Chaser General – Gerald Grand. Poindexter) didn't feel that the costs associated with transporting Vick to Virginia from Leavenworth penitentiary in Kansas was worth information technology. In that location was also another $two,500 fine which was suspended every bit well. Prissy job, Poindexter. I am sure the good people of Surry County think you're a real legal eagle, huh?
Some more of Chris' nifty math – If Surry County had actually tried Vick they could have charged him with those 29 offenses and reaped $72,500 in fines. Another area I am not an proficient in, is travel logistics, but I cannot imagine it would come any where most $72,500 to transport Vick the 1,160 miles (I Google Mapped information technology) – I mean, that's $62.l a mile!? They could take fueled an Abrams M1 armored tank (probably one of the world's worst gas efficient vehicles) for the entire trip for a mere $iii,420.
Another side note: Five of the surviving dogs rescued from Vick'south compound had to be put down. He was not held accountable for those either. But, according to Virginia law, he absolutely should have been. That would have brought the potential charge count up to 34 and another $12,500 for Mr. Poindexter's ridiculous transportation fund.
Many of you may recall I am taking the far extreme position, and I am. Permit me signal out a few things that should sicken even the hardest of you that may be reading this. First, as if dog fighting isn't vicious plenty, the animals that did non meet Vick and Co. standards or lost their fights were executed. Now I do non mean that they were euthanized by a simple and make clean (or slightly humane) method. No, these dogs were sadistically tortured and killed (at times by Vick's ain hands) using methods that required fifty-fifty a slight degree of premeditation and a stiff degree of sociopathology – malice and forethought: HANGING, DROWNING, ELECTROCUTING, BLUDGEONED WITH A SHOVEL, SLAMMING THEM TO THE Ground, et al. That kind of emotional detachment is truly frightening. If Vick and the others associated with Bad NewZ Kennels had washed to humans what they did to these dogs, they would be mentioned in the same breath with Dahmer, Gacey, Manson, BTK and other notorious serial killers.
Vick is reported every bit having experienced an adrenaline blitz and euphoric like high from his participation in this savagery.
Here'due south a niggling tidbit for you:
"The FBI considers animal cruelty a predictor for violence and connected violent beliefs… and is a considered factor when profiling series killers."
Prissy, huh?
And if you can even so overlook the glaring brutality committed by and on behalf of this human, then you lot seriously need to go your football shaped caput out of your ass and consider the situation without Vick. Vick is simply a man, he is not a football god, and he is not the savior of the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL or the sport as a whole. There are hundreds of quarterbacks betwixt the electric current NFL rosters and those in the many colleges and universities around our state. Most may not accept the talent level of Vick, simply fortunately (to the best of our knowledge) they don't have the violent pathology either.
As ridiculous as this is, fifty-fifty the Humane Society of the United States is jumping on the Vick bandwagon and is considering sponsoring Michael Vick to adopt a puppy. Vick is reported as proverb it would:
"…be a big stride in the rehabilitation process. I recollect just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely intendance, and my dear and my passion for animals; I think it would be outstanding. If I e'er have the opportunity again I will never accept information technology for granted," Vick told NBC, "I miss having a dog correct at present. I wish I could."
At that place should exist a massive public outcry calling for the firsthand and unconditional resignation or elementary termination of HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle. This is an outrage. I seriously promise that anyone who previously gave or is thinking about giving to the HSUS will better spend their money supporting the police force enforcing ASPCA or even ameliorate their local shelter.
"Junkies want drugs and pedophiles want children." It doesn't mean we give them to them. Vick is no dissimilar. Vick's sentencing prohibited him from owning a canis familiaris until 2012. This human being should never be allowed to ain a dog. Permit him explain to his girls what daddy did and why they cannot have that cute little puppy and live with the full weight of his actions.
For whatever reason [read: greed] Vick has been afforded a dandy opportunity for a second chance at his life. Simply if he were merely a regular Joe convicted of these or even far lesser offenses the President would not be so quick to applaud his second chance.
It is truly a shame that our current legal system does non provide stricter punishment for offenses similar this. We tend to "rehabilitate" through lenient sentencing, counseling and half-hearted community service.
Hither is a final departing image for you: (From The Lost Dogs past Jim Gorant, senior editor of Sports Illustrated)
"As that dog lay on the ground, fighting for air, Quanis Phillips grabbed its front legs and Michael Vick grabbed its back legs. They swung the dog over their caput similar a spring rope and then slammed it to the ground. The first touch on didn't impale it. So, Phillips and Vick slammed it again. The 2 men kept at it, alternate back and forth, pounding the creature against the ground until, at last, the little red dog was dead."
Michael Vick, you and your fans (including the POTUS, Surry Canton Commonwealth Attorney General – Gerald Poindexter, Eagles Owner – Jeffrey Lurie, and HSUS CEO – Wayne Pacelle) make me sick.
Most Sincerely,
Chris Durant
SOURCE DOCUMENTS (Courtroom Docs):
1. Department of Agriculture Investigative Interview
2. Vick Federal Indictment
3. Vick Federal Instance Statement of the Facts
4. Vick Federal Plea Agreement
5. Vick Federal Probation
half dozen. Vick Federal Sentencing (tiresome loading and hard to read)
vii. Vick Motion to Enter Plea (in VA) via Video Conference
eight. Vick Virginia Plea Agreement
*** please experience free to link to this post or copy it'south contents to your folio. ***
Thanks FOR READING.
Other Great Stories about Vick's Dogs –
PETITION: To Remove Wayne Pacelle as CEO of HSUS
"Through Her Optics" – Virginia's tale
Michael Vick Deserves a Pet… A "Pet Rock" Join the motility to send HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle Pet Rocks for Michael Vick to adopt.
Position on Vick from Former Director of Vick Dog Rehabilitation
Tell President Obama You Don't Agree with him Supporting Vick
Vick'southward Unpaid Dues – Why Dog Advocates aren't moving on
Critter Comments
People for the Ethical Treatment of Pit Bulls
Join Chris Durant on Facebook
Join the "NO Manner Subway" Movement on Facebook
Join the "Boycott Nike for Signing Michael Vick" Motility on Facebook
Source: https://chrisdurant2000.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/michael-vick-was-wrongly-convicted/