Oklahoma Supreme Court Overturns Pit Bull Ban

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Score one for the Pit Bulls!

Jerry Stuckey, of Midwest City, Oklahoma, had been fighting for years to save his family’s Bull Terriers. This week a state supreme court ruling ends the long legal battle.

The dispute centered on a now defunct Midwest City ordinance that banned dogs with “pit” or “bull” in their names as a danger to the community. ??That included the Stuckey’s Bull Terrier dogs.

Lower courts had previously ruled the dog ban violated state law.

This week the state supreme court refused to take up the issue, which means the Midwest City ban is now officially dead.?

“It’s a huge relief,” said Stuckey of the court’s decision.?

“It was just a bad ordinance. It was unconstitutional and I’m tickled to death the Supreme Court has the common sense they have.”??

After filing suit in 2007, Stuckey’s attorney, Scott Adams always argued and lower court judges agreed, Oklahoma state law prohibits dog bans from being breed specific.??

“It was a waste of money and time. I tried to tell everyone that from day one but the city wanted to pursue it. We defended it and won,” Adams said.??

“What it has taken away is the presumption that all Pit Bulls are dangerous animals,” said Midwest City attorney Katherine Bolles.?

Bolles argued all along, the issue is much bigger than just the Stuckey’s pets; it’s about city’s being able to set their own laws.??

“It’s not about the dogs. It’s about local control,” said Bolles.??

With no more legal options, Midwest City could still lobby state lawmakers to overturn state law.??

They could also draft a new, much less restrictive ordinance.

Marianncochran

Its not the dogs that are mean its the owner!
http://twitter.com/mhhaslam Michael Haslam

It’s an odious law, so glad it has been overturned.
Tony

That’s ALL about control……that’s the way it is with Socialist/Fascist Governments..ALL of them.
If they have control of you and your life, they ALL happy
Gloriahiemenz

I have an American Pit Bull Terrier who was rescued from years of abuse as a breeding dog and when she no longer “produced” was brutally burned,sliced and used as bait to encourage the other dogs to attack. By rights she should hate to be around humans and other dogs, but no, she is the sweetest ,most loving dog in the world. It is the the so called “owners” that are bad – not these dogs.Ban the abusive owners – NOT THE APBT.
Chuck

It’s about time that America wakes up,and sees that all dog owners need to exercise RESPONSIBILITY when it comes to training their animals,and that,when they do,they are rewarded.Pit bulls have gotten a very unfair rap over the years,and ,as long as they properly train their pets;ie,obedience traning,etc,it minimizes the chance of a dog becoming ovrly aggressive.
You know,we hear about pit bulls attacking people,but we never hear about what may have prompted the attack in the first.If ,for example,a child gets mauled,do we ever try to find out the reason WHY? Did the child pull its tail ,or take its food away,or do something to cause the dog pain?I’ll tell you what……………….if someone pulled my tail,I’d probably kick their butt! We hardly ever hear both sides of the story,and it’s about time that someone speaks out for all the dogs who can’t.
Does anyone remember Petey,the pit bull mix on the Little Rascals with the circle around his eye? How many times did he ever harm someone,especially the child actors on the show? Get my point?
Chris

I have a blue pit bull male who thinks he is human and likes nothing better than to be in my lap or on the bed with me. he weights 70 pounds but that doesnt stop him from acting like a baby . He asks me when he wants out or on my bed or wants his but scratched. Yes he is protective of me but so is my sons of me.
Maya6man24

Pitbulls where brought to this country and trained to take down a BULL charging a rancher. that is why there jaws became so developed and strong. Then they where bread to fight, that gene carries on to the offspring. It is there regardless of how nice you are to the dog. It is like a wild animal and can turn at anytime. I have known good pits I have known bad ones, it partial depends on the treatment of the dog, but that is true as of any dog. Plain in simple they are a dangerous dog period.

Mar 23, 2011Comments: 7

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