Justice for Sheep

David Cassuto

You know those signs in every restaurant bathroom you’ve ever been in that declare it against the law for employees not to wash their hands after using the facilities?  I want to live in a world where such signs are not necessary.  I want to live in a world where employees wash their hands irrespective of any statutory mandate.  A world where people know that good hygiene is its own reward.  Either that, or I want the statute to apply to patrons too.  Because doggone it, call me a socialist but I think everyone should wash their hands.

I also want to live in a world where there is no need to outlaw the killing of sheep by decompression.  Until I do though, my hat’s off to Wisconsin.  It’s illegal to kill sheep by decompression there.  Of course, that didn’t stop some faculty members at the University of Wisconsin (with support from the Navy) from doing it anyway.    

Now the question becomes, does this law that ought not be necessary get enforced?  The local DA says no, that it wouldn’t be a  “wise use of resources.” One has to wonder what that means.  When is it not a wise use of resources to prosecute someone who has committed a crime, is known to the state, and who lives locally and  is not a fugitive?

In any case, there is also a law in Wisconsin that says that citizens can file criminal complaints when a judge determines there is probable cause and the prosecutor declines to file charges.  Kudos to the Alliance for Animals and PETA for picking up the ball that the DA purposely dropped.  Maybe there will one day be some justice for the sheep.