LEGISLATION

Delaware H.B. 346: Criminalizing Depictions of Animal Cruelty

Memo in Opposition to H.B. 346

Delaware's H.B. 346 would make it illegal to knowing view or possess any visual depiction of a live animal being intentionally tortured or killed in a way that is illegal under Delaware or federal law. The law contains a "safe harbor" exemption for images with serious scientific, journalistic, or political value when applying contemporary community standards. A conviction under the law is a Class G felony. Media Coalition believes that, in light of the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. 1577 (2010), to which it is extremely similar. Additionally, because H.B. 346 limits the criminal act to possession or viewing of particular images, which contradicts the Supreme Court's decision in Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 577 (1969).

Read Media Coalition's Memo in Opposition to H.B. 346, sent to the House Judiciary Committee and the bill's sponsors on June 15.

updated 6/15/10

Litigation:	INTERNET \| RATINGS ENFORCEMENT \| SEIZURE/PRIOR RESTRAINT \| HARMFUL TO MINORS/MINORS' ACCESS \| SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT AND MINORS \| OBSCENITY \| ZONING & LICENSING \| VIOLENT CONTENT \| DISPLAY \| THIRD PARTY LIABILITY \| MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
Legislation:	LEGISLATIVE TRACKER 2011 LEGISLATION \| ALABAMA HOUSE BILL 153: IMPOSING A TAX ON SPEECH \| ALABAMA HOUSE BILL 441: BARRING MINORS' ACCESS TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO GAMES \| ALASKA SENATE BILL 31: RESTRICTING THE DISPLAY OF HARMFUL TO MINORS MATERIAL \| ARIZONA HOUSE BILL 2468: ALLOWING GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT OF INDUSTRY RATING SYSTEMS
Latest News:	PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION GRANTED IN ABFFE V. SULLIVAN \| PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION GRANTED IN ABFFE V. COAKLEY \| ALASKA LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL SAYS STATE IS NOT LIKELY TO APPEAL ABFFE V BURNS \| SUPREME COURT HEARS ORAL ARGUMENT IN SCHWARZENEGGER V. EMA \| ALASKA SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO CERTIFY QUESTIONS IN ABFFE V. BURNS
About