Banning Crush Videos

The US House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday, July 21, that would bring back a ban on “crush videos.” Crush videos, which graphically depict the abuse and killing of animals, were originally banned in 1999. This past spring, however, the Supreme Court struck down the law on the basis that it violated free speech. The new law is more narrowly written and makes the sale or distribution of these videos illegal. Supporter Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) was reported saying that after the 1999 law, crush videos virtually disappeared, yet there has been a resurgence since the Supreme Court decision.