Why the headline?
The headline reads Pit bull victim’s family crusades for stiffer penalties. Great, sign me up. I’m all for expanding criminal charges against the owners of dogs that attack and kill people. However, that’s not what victim’s family is doing:
Linda Collinsworth refuses to let her 2-year-old granddaughter die in vain. Although she and her family are still dealing with the horror and grief they have suffered since the little girl was killed by her babysitter’s pit bull last year, they are determined to move ahead with their plan to have pit bulls banned in California. At the very least, they want penalties toughened on owners who allow their dogs to harm or kill others.
“This is going to be Somer’s Law. It’s going to happen,” Collinsworth said. “I’m not going to stop. No other child or family should ever have to suffer this horrible tragedy ever again.”
Uhm, that’s not a stiffer penalty, that is a breed specific legislation. It is an ineffective means of dealing with the problem at hand, which is irresponsible dog owners. Why the push?
Somer and her brother Matt, now 2, were dropped off at the home of temporary babysitter Jackie Batey in Good Hope on the morning of June 20, 2003, so that father Jason, 28, could continue on to his job in Hemet.
It was the last day Batey would be needed, because the family’s support network, which normally looked after the children, would be back in place after a few logistical and health problems had been resolved, Collinsworth said.
The babysitter decided to run errands at about 7:15 a.m., leaving Somer alone in front of the television while everyone else in the house slept. Some time later, Batey’s 11-year-old son was making breakfast in the kitchen when he looked out the window and saw the family’s pit bull playing with what he thought was a doll. It was only later, when the boy was taking trash outside, that he saw it was Somer. He tried to kick the dog off her and then ran inside to wake his father, who called 911.
So, the child was left unattended with a dog? Someone should have gone to jail, and did:
Batey faced criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. Under a plea bargain, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Dec. 5, 2003 and was sentenced to one year in jail.
He was released from jail early and they are pushing for a law that would automatically charge someone with murder if their dog kills someone. Murder may be a stretch, unless the dog is encouraged to attack. Criminal negligence is probably more reasonable. And if that doesn’t work, they will push for a breed ban in all of California. As I understand it, breed bans are illegal in California. Closing quote:
“These dogs are not normal,” Collinsworth said. “You can have them for years and they can turn and maul a child.”
If a person insists on having a pit bull, then he or she should have $100,000 liability insurance and be required to attend classes to educate the owner about the dog. The dog should also be registered.
“Pit bulls are the equivalent of a loaded gun,” Collinsworth said.
These dogs are quite normal. And, like any normal dog, if they’re not socialized they can become aggressive. No one to blame here but pet owners. Additionally, loaded guns don’t attack people no matter how badly you socialize them.
