Florida lawmakers approve bill to outlaw bestiality, awaits governor's signature

2011-05-07 02:57:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) -- Lawmakers in Florida have finally approved a law that will make it a crime for humans to have sex with animals. It ends years of inaction over the controversial subject.

Senate Bill 344, sponsored by Senator Nan Rich, will make it illegal for humans to engage in any sexual activities with animals and will be punishable by up to one year in jail. Similar bills were introduced by Rich as early as 2008, but failed due to inaction.

As both the Florida Senate and House have now finally approved the new law, it will now go to Governor Rick Scott for his signature. His press office could not immediately say whether or not Scott would sign it into law.

If Scott signs the bill, bestiality will not immediately become illegal. Section 2 of Senate Bill 344 indicates that the ban would take effect on October 1 of this year.

More than 30 U.S. states have laws on its books that prohibit the controversial sex act, which remains legal in a number of U.S. states. Bestiality is also legal in a number of other countries, although the majority of countries has approved laws in recent years to ban the act.

A 2002 study found that 96 percent of juveniles who had sex with animals also admitted to sex offenses against humans, according to the Humane Society of the United States. The FBI also previously said that serial sexual homicide perpetrators commonly sexually assault animals.

And while the subject remains a social taboo, supporters of bestiality argue that arguments against the act rely on double standards as animals do also not give consent for slaughter, experiments, hunting, and other activities. They also claim animals can enjoy it, or even initiate the act.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-07

Okay, there is something just wrong about shagging an animal. Yet, on a more humorous note they don't talk ba, ba ba, back.

Me thinks I have too much time on my hands.