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Animal-rights supporters laud sentence in case
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Richmond (Map, News) - Inside the federal courthouse, Michael Vick’s mother wept and had to be consoled by her younger son, Marcus.
Outside, animal-rights activists praised the 23-month prison sentence Vick received Monday for his role in an illegal dogfighting venture that was based on land he owned in Surry County.
“This shows that dogfighting is a dead-end activity and is a career-killer,” said John Goodwin, an animal-fighting expert with the Humane Society of the United States.
About 50 people, many with signs showing dogs wounded in fights, demonstrated outside the federal courthouse Monday morning and cheered the punishment. A handful of Vick supporters stood outside as well, showing support for their fallen hero.
“I know he’s sorry what he did,” said Robert Eanes, who sported a No. 7 Vick jersey and arrived at the courthouse at 4:30 a.m. to make sure he would see the sentencing in person. The Richmond resident, who was 16th in line, hoped the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback would receive less than 21 months in prison.
“The media and everyone else is making a big deal about this because he’s famous,” Eanes said. “If it were you or me, no one would care. I hope he will come back and play football again.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely without pay in the summer, and did not speculate Monday when he might reinstate the quarterback once the prison sentence ends.
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, however, would not rule out the possibility that Vick could return to the team.
“We sincerely hope that Michael will use this time to continue to focus his efforts on making positive changes in his life, and we wish him well in that regard,” Blank said.
jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:47 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 30, 2008 re: "April trial date set for Vick on Va. dogfighting charges"
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4:30 PM MST on Sat., Aug. 30, 2008
re: "April trial date set for Vick on Va. dogfighting charges"
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6:48 AM MST on Tue., Dec. 11, 2007
re: "Judge admonishes Vick at sentencing"
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5:47 AM MST on Tue., Dec. 11, 2007
re: "Judge admonishes Vick at sentencing"
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4:57 AM MST on Tue., Dec. 11, 2007
re: "Judge admonishes Vick in sentencing former quarterback to nearly two years"
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6:37 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 28, 2007
re: "Remembering Vick the person"
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5:46 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 28, 2007
re: "Remembering Vick the person"
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2:37 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 23, 2007
re: "Dogs seized in Vick case facing death sentence"
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2:08 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 23, 2007
re: "Dogs seized in Vick case facing death sentence"
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8:51 AM MST on Thu., Aug. 23, 2007
re: "Dogs seized in Vick case facing death sentence"
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TH said:
If you do not punish Michael Vick the way he is supposed to be punished, well then, maybe we are just going backwards. There will be no future for human beings and pets if Vick walks out of jail inleashed because he is the real threat to society and the animal world. God Bless Us and our Beautiful Pets! Not even an animal would behave the way he did. TH
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Examiner Reader said:
To me: He is a serial killer, and he should be treated like a regular killer. He is a horrendous person. An animal would never kill for fun like he did. Many but many years of prison for the abuser of the innocent. SK
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Muckle John said:
I agree with Examiner Reader 5:47 AM MST. This is extremely disturbing behavior. It must not be tolerated (and it hasn't been). It should be punished (and it has been... and will be; Vick faces further charges).
It should be noted that serial killers invariably begin by torturing animals before they "graduate" to people. Vick certainly seems to be a sadistic psychopath. That being the case something more than incarceration is in order here. The man needs healing before he is released to human society.
I have to say that I've heard very few calls for leniency, though.
109 agree | 114 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Vick didn't even need the money he got from the dogfighting. That means he did this for sport, he actually enjoyed it. He got pleasure out of seeing animals suffer, and he drowned and asphixiated underperforming dogs with his bare hands. If that's not pure evil, I don't know what is. Anyone crying for leniency needs to get their head checked, because they're such a big "fan" that they can't even get past sociopathic behavior.
104 agree | 104 disagree
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Muckle John said:
"Free Voice and all his other cohorts who suport Vick should be tied to whipping posts and beaten until dead."
Is it it just me, or does anybody else see the irony in this statement?
I fully agree that dogfighting is hideous and the people who patronize it or profit from it should be punished, but your moral outrage rings hollow when you propose beating them to death... even if you're using hyperbole.
106 agree | 96 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Free Voice and all his other cohorts who suport Vick should be tied to whipping posts and beaten until dead. Anyone who mistreats any animal should not be allowed to walk free anywhere. Those people are savages and should be dealt with accordingly.
171 agree | 187 disagree
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Answer for Free Voice said:
Hey Free Voice. The answer to your first question is that were it not for Vick and his cohorts, the dogs would not have to be killed. They trained them the dogs to be killers, not pets.
175 agree | 182 disagree
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GAB said:
These people, unlike Mr. Vick, do the killing humanely, with an injection of lethal drugs. They don't fight the animals for the amusement of others. Many animal rights groups don't like putting animals down; however, what option do they have if they don't have anyone who is adopting them? Are you planning to adopt 55 pit bulls who have been trained to fight? Let me say this: people who support dogfighting have a distorted view of what sport should be. Dogfights are havens for criminals and drug abusers and gamblers, according to those who know; this is not innocent sport. It's thug culture gone to its extreme. What next, fighting people to death in cages? Or shall we put people in against lions?
156 agree | 168 disagree
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Free Voice said:
I feel as though, why charge a man for killing dogs when they are going to be killed anyway. Who's sentencing those people? And why are animal activist not protesting against these particular places.
168 agree | 162 disagree
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GAB said:
At least they'll be put down painlessly... no hanging, drowning, or electrocuting. Michael Vick showed his cowardice and bullying side then.
172 agree | 167 disagree
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