President Obama has signed the anti-Crush video law this week, H.R. 5566.

Crush videos, often associated with a type of fetish, usually depict attractive women killing animals by crushing them with spiked heels or some other manner combining sexual displays of women torturing and/or killing animals. The new law makes it illegal to create, sale or market these videos, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

An attempt to maintain a law like this was struck down in 1999 by a Supreme Court ruling in the case of a man who was marketing and selling dog fighting videos, saying it was a violation of free speech.

In a vote of 8-1, the only lone dissenter, Justice Samuel Alito warned of how crush videos would soon rise in popularity if no action was taken.

“The animals used in crush videos are living creatures that experience excruciating pain. Our society has long banned such cruelty,” he said, adding that the courts “erred in second-guessing the legislative judgment about the importance of preventing cruelty to animals.”

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society issued a statement on the HSUS website.

“The Humane Society of the United States commends President Obama for signing this bill into law and bringing an end to some of the most gruesome cruelty any of us have ever witnessed. When federal courts struck down the 1999 animal cruelty depictions law, we saw a resurgence of animal crush videos. Congress swiftly passed more narrowly-tailored legislation to crack down on this horrific trade while addressing the courts’ concerns. We are thankful that countless animals will now be spared from intentional torture for sick entertainment and profit.”

Photo: PR Photos

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