Senate Bill Would Legalize Bestiality in Military
Laura Allen
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012 is raising more than eyebrows for a number of controversial provisions, but to those who care about the welfare of animals, none is more disturbing than the Senate provision that would legalize bestiality in the military. The Senate version of H.R. 1540 (also S.B. 1867) would repeal Art. 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice which prohibits, in part, bestiality or sex with animals. Art. 125 provides: "(a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with ... an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense. (b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."
The Senate version which passed by unanimous consent on December 1, 2011, must now be reconciled with the House version which passed on May 26, 2011 but without the offending provision. A conference committee made up of House and Senate members will resolve the differences in the two versions. The senate conferees are: Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI); Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT); Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI); Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI); Sen. Ben Nelson (R-NE); Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA); Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO); Sen. Mark Udall (D- CO); Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC); Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK); Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV); Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH); Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY); Blumenthal; Sen. John McCain (R-AZ); Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK); Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL); Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA); Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS); Sen. Brown (R-MA); Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH); Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH); Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME); Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC); Sen. Tom Cornyn (R-TX); Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)
Find the contact info for these senators here. Write (letters or faxes are best) or call and urge them to amend H.R. 1540 to leave the ban on bestiality in place. If you live in their state, be sure to let them know. We will let you know the names and contact info for House conferee members as soon as the information is released.
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animal-cruelty/article/1893