Editor’s note:   For many reasons it is always cause for concern when dog mauling victims and/or their families push for a breed ban (especially for “pit bulls” since “pit bull” is not a breed).   Their anger is understandable of course, but I submit to them that they should instead lobby for dangerous dog (owner) laws in Texas municipalities still lacking comprehensive Animal Control laws.   Dangerous dog (owner) laws have a proven track record of success whereas breed-specific legislation has proven unsuccessful nationally — most recently in Toledo, Denver, and Topeka — and worldwide — in Toronto, Italy, the Netherlands, and the U.K.

From NBC DFW in Texas:

The family of a 10-year-old boy killed by two pit bulls is pushing for a statewide ban on the breed.

Justin Clinton was killed in June 2009 near Kilgore in Rusk County, and his family won a $7 million judgment against the dogs’ owner in September.

“Justin’s Law,” the proposed legislation written by Cynthia Kent, the family’s attorney, would make owning a pit bull a third-degree felony in Texas. But the proposal does not have any sponsors in the Legislature.

…The Lone Star State American Pit Bull Terrier Club posted an alert urging members to contact lawmakers to oppose such a ban while acknowledging that Justin’s Law is unlikely to pass if it is introduced to the Legislature.

Read this article in its entirety here.