We cherish the APBT and we therefore continue to fight off BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) on every front, from petition signing to picketing and boycotting those who support the erradication of the APBT and "bully breeds". People assume that because a vicious and uncontrolled APBT acts out, that the entire breed acts the same way and that the entire breed should be outlawed! However, the "general" approach to BSL violates the rights of the dog and its owner! This outlandish and total disregard for freedom has caused many people to give up the APBT breed altogether. Also, individual rights of dog owners across the nation are being tresspassed by those legislators who blame the entire breed, instead of the specific wrongdoers who do not control their pets!
Problem dogs do exist, but BSL seems to be only a "quick fix" to the growing problem. Overbreeding and backyard breeding of dogs that don't fit the confirmation and don't have stable temperaments are allowed to continue to reproduce, making it harder to show the general public that this breed is not inherantly aggressive toward humans. The major proble, still seems to be among those B-Y-B's ( back-yard-breeders), who will do anything to turn a buck. B-Y-B's tell their puppy buyers that the so-called APBT puppies they sell are "opure" APBT's, when in fact the pups could be a mixture of any of the "bully breeds" or some other breed of dog, mixed with a "pure" APBT. Later, down the road, when that puppy, that was bred with an unstable temperament, the dog may end up in a shelter, due to behavior problems, genetics disorders, or worse bites a child, because the B-Y-B's have no knowledge of genetics or have not done any research before breeding these "wanna-be" APBT's! Anyone can choose to call his or her dog anything they want. The B-Y-B's seem to be the root of BSL in the first place!
To find out more about BSL, go to www.pbrc.net . There you will find sample letters for writing to your local legislators. Also, look at the rott-n-chatter link PBRC gives you; they have a website for states and areas already in full swing with BSL!
For further information on current BSL please refer to the following links: http://www.stopbsl.com/
http://www.rott-n-chatter.com/rottweilers/laws/breedspecific.html
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/aruslweiss2001.htm
http://www.pitbulllovers.com/breed-specific-legislation.html
http://www.dogplay.com/Articles/MyArticles/pitbull.html
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogbreeds/All_the_Different_Dog_Breeds.htm