http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/25/save-people-not-pets/
http://tinyurl.com/33dasa5
HANSON: Save people, not pets
Banning medic training with live animals could kill our troops
By Jim Hanson
7:03 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A choice between animal lives and human lives is pretty simple for most
people, but there are some groups that would equate the two. Right now,
there is an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act that would cost
the lives of some of our troops in order to save the lives of some
animals. One of the groups pushing this agenda is the Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine, which posts this on its website:
"On Dec. 10, 2009, Rep. Bob Filner, California Democrat, chair of the
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, introduced H.R. 4269, the BEST
Practices Act, which would phase in human-based training methods and
replace the current use of live animals in military medical training
courses."
The euphemistically named BEST Practices Act is anything but that. The
best practice for a new combat medic is treating a living being. That is
a harsh reality, but it is the truth. Currently, the military conducts
what is called live-tissue training with goats and pigs. The animals are
anesthetized and then given wounds the medics and doctors are likely to
see in combat, and the medics perform the appropriate procedures to
treat them. The animals are not a perfect analogue to a human casualty,
but they provide one thing no simulation or dummy can: the visceral
reaction each medic must face when a life is in danger....
Representative Filner was a professor at San Diego State University prior to running for office many years ago. I happen to be an alumnus of San Diego State Unioversity, but never had the agony of taking a class under Professor Filner.
Representative Filner once came to a Bahia Sur Kennel Club championship show and presented either a Group Trophy or BIS trophy. He was completely in awe of the fine dogs he observed, and exhibited complete ignorance of the purpose of dog shows. He was very glad to receive the attention provided by the event. But since that time, he has been unresponsive to further invitations or entreaties to vote in any way favorable to the future of the dog fancy or the rights of individual pet owners.
I think I can speak for a large segment of the dog fancy, even the largest segment of our hobby, when I say we would want this latest legislative effort by him to fail, in favor of our warriors that protect us far and near, who sometimes sacrifice their bodies and lives in our benefit.
Maybe it is time for the voters in his district to decide whether he should really continue in office, given this legislation and his disregard of military men and the possible outcomes of his work. |
