As discussed in the previous blog, dog fighting is a common form of animal abuse. One of the most recent, well known dog fighting cases is the one involving Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback Michael Vick and three others, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor. According to an article written by the Washington Post, in July of 2007 Vick and the three other men were indicted for operating the dogfighting ring “Bad Newz Kennels” on Vick's property in Virginia and across state lines. Dogfighting is a felony in Virginia and, because they transported dogs over state lines to fight it makes their offense a federal crime. A portion of the indictment said that eight dogs who did not fight well were executed by various methods including hanging, drowning, or slamming the dog to the ground. The indictment also alleged that Vick consulted with Peace before Peace killed a losing dog by electrocution.
Vick accepted a plea bargain of 12 to 18 months; however, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison in December 2007. Vick received a harsher sentence because of conflicting statements made by him to the FBI. Vick previously denied that he was involved in the killing of the dogs during questioning sessions with the FBI. But after more questioning sessions and a polygraph test he finally admitted that he hung two dogs with Phillips.
According to CNN, after Vick entered in to this guilty plea he apologized for his actions and said that he was, “disappointed in myself…for all the things that I’ve done and that I’ve allowed to happen… dogfighting is a terrible thing and I…reject it…Through this situation I’ve found Jesus…I got a lot of down time…to think about my actions.”
Click on the link below to see his full apology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzytivQsPGI
Vick’s actions are horrendous and grotesque. I believe that his punishment is well suited for the crime he committed. His apology seems sincere and remorseful, but what other emotion is there for him to display? Vick would be an idiot to display any other emotion than remorse in the public eye. How would that look to a sentencing judge if he went in to a court room with a smug attitude and no remorse for what he did to those dogs?
Well, I hope Vick has changed and does truly feel remorseful for his actions. If he does not he has more than a year to think about his actions in federal prison.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071701393.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/12/11/ST2007121100072.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/08/27/michael.vick/index.html
1 comment:
I think that it's a shame how these professional athletes put themselves in such positions. With all the money they are making, I would believe that they would have a better time watching Prison Break Seasons 1-2 on Blu Ray. But here they are, out having fun partying at clubs and "making it rain" with dollar bills. From Lawrence Phillips to Michael Vick and now Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Dallas Cowboys; it seems as if money isn't the solution to everything. Maybe what Sean "Diddy" Combs said about money is true when he said "the more money we come across, the more problems we see." Sean Combs is a great example of somebody whom has witness problems with money first hand when his best friend, Notorious B.I.G., died from a East Coast-West Coast beef (R.I.P.) to his current issue with his pop group, Danity Kane. It's clear that money is the issue since he claims that fame has got the best of one of the bandmates (Aubrey Oday, if you didn't know). I now only hope that Miley "Hannah Montana" Cyrus doesn't follow in their footsteps and take what they have for granted since I enjoy her music.
Michael,
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