1 Child = 1 Chicken

There has been a lot of debate where I live as to whether restrictions should be put on pit bulls. These restrictions would include: having insurance on the pit bull, always having the dog on a leash, being subject to random searches of your home, and having a certain fence height to keep the dog enclosed. The random searches one was thrown out because it violates 4th amendment rights. But if you ask me, the whole thing should be thrown out. To me, discriminating against a certain kind of dog is the same as discriminating against a certain kind of person. If you are going to make laws about pit bulls, do it for all dogs or don't do it all. In my opinion, all dogs have the ability to be aggressive. It just depends how they are raised, whether or not they become aggressive. Even if it doesn't have to do with how they are raised, that doesn't mean it is only pit bulls that become dangerous. I think if this law passes, it will just discourage people from adopting pit bulls, and then all those pit bulls will wind up dead. Is that what people want?

One person wrote her opinion in the local newspaper. That person said she was grateful for leash laws because she had a (admittedly irrational) fear of dogs. I don't necessarily have a problem with leash laws. But if someone has a fear, does that mean we have to make laws to keep that person from being afraid? If someone is afraid of cats, do we have to put limits on where cats can roam? I see cats wandering around without a leash or collar all the time. What if they are dangerous? The person who wrote to the paper actually suggested that people should replace their dogs with cats or chickens. As a dog owner I find that insulting. My dog is like a member of my family, and could never be replaced. That is like saying you should replace your children with chickens. Maybe society needs to lighten up on making laws, and realize that life comes with all kinds of risks that everyone cannot always be protected from.