Thank you for your 2A efforts. Please research and advise everyone about the inequality in law that allows self defense against dangerous humans but not dangerous animals. This is a growing concern due to TNR (trap neuter release) programs and people growing their own food. Also of concern is the recent rabies cases in Florida. Simply stated if a homeowner sees a rabid cat in his personal private fenced property he cannot shoot it. Farmland, rural or city it makes no difference. The property owner may call animal control. Duval County (Jacksonville Florida) has a total of eight animal control officers. Animal control may attempt to capture the rabid cat but they cannot shoot it. The home owner may call the police who will refer the home owner to animal control. If an officer arrives and can determine the cat is a danger the officer may shoot the cat and face a shooting review board. There are currently no exceptions to the law to allow a person to defend himself or others or his property against feral cats or dogs. Cats are proven to be prolific carriers of zoonotic diseases. Cats are the most reported and recorded carriers of rabies. Cats are the only animal that provides sexual reproduction of Toxoplasma gondii. The perfect biological weapon that remains infectious in cat feces for eighteen months. Any human contact with soil containing cat feces is dangerous, lawn, garden, golf course or playground. Please research and prove or disprove this information. I think you will find that exceptions need to be made to the laws to allow personal protection of body and property against feral animals.
Florida 828.12 Cruelty to animals.—
(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal, or a person who owns or has the custody or control of any animal and fails to act, which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, commits aggravated animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(a) A person convicted of a violation of this subsection, where the finder of fact determines that the violation includes the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injures, mutilates, or kills the animal, shall be ordered to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.
(b) A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be required to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and serve a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 6 months. In addition, the person shall be released only upon expiration of sentence, is not eligible for parole, control release, or any form of early release, and must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subsection.
Florida 828.12 Cruelty to animals.—
(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal, or a person who owns or has the custody or control of any animal and fails to act, which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, commits aggravated animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(a) A person convicted of a violation of this subsection, where the finder of fact determines that the violation includes the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injures, mutilates, or kills the animal, shall be ordered to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.
(b) A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be required to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and serve a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 6 months. In addition, the person shall be released only upon expiration of sentence, is not eligible for parole, control release, or any form of early release, and must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subsection.