DOES PUNISHMENT FIT CRIME?
South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has arrested two men in connection with the abuse of a baby alligator earlier this week.
SCDNR arrested 20-year-old Joseph Andrew Floyd Jr. and 21-year-old Zachary Lloyd Brown – both of Ridgeland, S.C. – on wildlife harassment charges in the aftermath of an incident that went viral on social media.
Floyd and Brown were traveling down a public dirt road between the towns of Hardeeville and Tillman in Jasper County, S.C. on Wednesday when they saw the baby alligator crossing the road in front of them.
The two men proceeded to grab the reptile, force open its mouth and pour beer into it – posting photos of this “Gator Shotgun” onto social media.
Here’s one of those images …
(Click to view)
(Via SCDNR)
Floyd and Brown say they released the animal into a nearby pond afterward and watched it swim away.
So … what sort of penalty are these two “men” looking at? Not much of one …
Under South Carolina’s code of laws (Article 5, § 50-15-500, Subsection C), the most they could be fined in connection with this particular charge is $300.
SCDNR officials say they hope the public outcry over the case will keep people mindful of the importance of respecting wildlife.
“Wildlife conservation is a big part of what SCDNR officers do each day,” SCDNR first sergeant Earl Pope said in a statement. “This case is a good example of why we strive to educate people about wildlife in hopes that they will respect it.”
SCDNR urges anyone who witnesses the harassment of wildlife to report the incident to 1-800-922-5431.
What do you think?
Is a $300 fine in this case a sufficiently firm punishment?
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