Senate passes bill 59-1 to make it a Buster’s Law felony punishable by up to 2 years in jail to harm pets during the commission of another felony
As the State Senate today passed “Kirby & Quigley’s Law by a 59-1 vote, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville) has announced a new online petition drive to harness the power of the people to urge the Speaker of the Assembly to bring the bill to the Floor of the New York State Assembly for a debate and up or down vote.
“Kirby & Quigley’s Law” was named for two Montgomery County dogs that were shot and killed during a burglary two weeks ago. This case is still unsolved and Curtis Lumber is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of any suspect(s). If you have any information that can solve this case, please call the Montgomery County Sheriff at 518-853-5500.
“There’s no question that anyone who would invade a home and assassinate two loving dogs in cold blood would harm a human being. These individuals need to be found and go to prison for a long time,” said Tedisco. “The Senate has passed ‘Kirby and Quigley’s Law’ three times and now it’s time for the Assembly to bring justice to the Krohn family and to the memory of Kirby and Quigley by enabling this legislation that has bi-partisan support to come to the Floor of the Assembly for an up or down vote.”
“My life was changed forever in a heartbeat. In that instant when I realized that something so evil had happened in my house I felt empty. My home had been violated, but the damage that will live on forever was the cruel, sick nightmare, that plays over and over in my mind. Kirby and Quigley were full of life, kind and the center of our family. How was I going to move forward? How do I face my students, let alone anyone I know without breaking down everyday? My salvation came to me from Assemblyman Jim Tedisco. I was well aware of Buster's Law, so when we were approached by Assemblyman Tedisco, I knew immediately I was going to be able to face this evil. There was no question in my mind that Kirby and Quigley would be honored to be the name and face to this new Law. We were blessed to have these amazing creatures, that loved us unconditionally, and now we are going to share them with everyone! My dogs will not have died in vain. How this has not become a law already baffles me. To now have this goal to pass the Kirby and Quigley Bill into a Law has lifted our spirits. I am able to see the good again
The bill (A.1596/S.2936), which has twice passed the Senate before, would make it a Buster’s Law felony punishable with 2 years in jail and a $5,000 fine for harming a companion animal during the commission of another felony. This enhanced penalty of two years in prison is important to ensure that perpetrators will be charged with felony animal cruelty charges when they face other felonies such as burglary. Tedisco is the prime sponsor of the bill in the Assembly and Senator Phil Boyle (R,C,I-Suffolk County) sponsors it in the Senate. The legislators renamed the measure “Kirby & Quigley’s Law” in the dogs’ memory with support from the Krohn family who don’t want what happened to their family to happen to anyone else.
This year, the FBI has moved animal cruelty to a top tier Group A offense in its crime reporting statistics due to it being a bridge crime, as animal abusers can, and often do, go on to harm people.
Tedisco also noted that June 7th will be the 6th annual New York State Animal Advocacy Day which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Well of the Legislative Office Building in Albany, and that “Kirby and Quigley’s Law” will be one of the days top legislative priorities if it does not pass the Assembly by then.
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