Senate Court: Orangutans are non-human Persons with legal rights

We do, but I don't partake. Wretched things, red-heads.

 

I think it's important to make a distinction between "detention" and "custody".
The clear precedent is again, in the case of dementia and mental illness, where a person (usually next-of-kin) is given power of attorney. An Orangutan is likewise unable to function in the modern human environment - they'd likely either attack someone or get hit by a car within the hour in a major city; can't blame them given how terrifying and confusing one must seem. That means the options are delegate power of attorney to a competent caregiver, or release into a habitat where they can function freely.
Unfortunately, those habitats are dwindling, many apes already born into captivity will never be able to function there, and if apes only exist in the wild, they'll be extinct frighteningly soon. For those and other, lesser reasons, I think it makes sense for Orangutans and apes in general to be given into the guardianship of certain qualified individuals or organizations, provided they're given protections and rights like this bill sets the framework for.

 

C'mon, Ender, I know they don't have souls but neither do dogs.

They're alright. As long as they don't lick your face. Have to draw a line there.

 

I think this is a step in the right direction, but wake me up when chickens are given their legal rights. Chickens are decent people.

 

This is all the work of the gays. People will be marrying monkeys next, then dogs and finally chickens.

 

What's wrong with that? Have you ever seen a chicken come home after a long day at work and beat it's Hen?

 

I was going to post about how I actually see how the idea of "guardianship" could work legally as a replacement for "ownership" and "detention." But then I read that post right there and I just kind of lost the will to even go on.

 

The Orangutan picture in the second post looks like Maurice from the most recent POTA films. It sounds like this is the first step towards the Apes taking over the planet....watch out for any scientists out there that look like James Franco, who happen to be working on Anti-Alzheimer's experimental drugs, & who are testing them on chimps....

 

No, but roosters do. That's cause they're cocks.

 

Go pullet, Sean.

 

I don't know if the "personhood" route is the best one for this situation or not -- I can see some good and bad aspects to it -- but I do think more needs to be done to improve the quality of life of captive animals (or to keep certain animals from being captive -- ie dolphins and whales). I see it as a situation where there's a lot of different approaches to the problem, and if Argentina wants to try this one, I say great: give it a shot.

 

How exactly is "legal person" defined then?

 

You can have legal personhood without things like the right to vote. A human child is considered a legal person, but can't vote.

Great apes, and other beings like dolphins, whales, elephants, some breeds of dogs and cats, and more, have demonstrated cognitive abilities that show they are thinking sentient beings. They aren't at the level where they should have the right to vote, but they should still be recognized as legal persons with rights to life, freedom from cruelty, etc.

 

Been thinking up that answer for some 2 years, Ghost?

also DOWN WITH CHINA!

 

Mmm yeah, I knew that. Is this just a question of terminology then? I guess I'm still wondering if there's a difference between calling for humane treatment of animals and calling for legal personhood.

 

Legal personhood is better protection because it guarantees that those rights can't be infringed without due process, and gives a solid legal foundation to the humane treatment of animals, Alpha-Red

 

Good to see the crusade for animal justice took a backseat til one ape in a zoo kicked the bucket and you rediscovered your previously discovered life calling.

 

I for one applaud this move by Ghost. If you're going to double down, double down hard I say.

 

Because some dogs and cats are more equal than other dogs and cats.

 

Did I really make this joke two years ago?

 

Long overdue to make another one.