Epidemic:
Kids Hurting Animals

As mental-health and law-enforcement experts well know, cruelty to animals and violence against humans are inextricably linked. Many educators are aware that serial killers and school shooters—including alleged killers Salvador Ramos, Payton Gendron, Nikolas Cruz, and Ethan Crumbley—tend to have a history of cruelty to animals, and Sandy Hook Promise has cruelty to animals on its “10 Critical Warning Signs of Violence” list.

Forty-three percent of perpetrators of schoolyard massacres commit acts of cruelty to animals first. Educators can help prevent future tragedies by including kindness to animals in the curriculum. Amid the current epidemic of youth violence, PETA urges everyone to report every act of cruelty against animals and calls on authorities to take each animal abuse claim seriously—for the sake of the animal victims and to help prevent future harm. Lives may depend on it.

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Hawaii

State Laws

Character Education Policy 101-2 (Former Policy 2109)

“The vitality and viability of our democratic way of life are dependent on all students developing into responsible and caring citizens who respect themselves, others, and the world in which they live. Character education is the process through which students are provided opportunities to learn and demonstrate democratic principles and core ethical values such as civic responsibility, compassion, honesty, integrity, and self-discipline. The Department shall identify a common core of ethical values which will be promoted throughout the public school system and serve as standards for student behavior and character development.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

September 2020/Haleiwa, Hawaii

KITV.com reported that surveillance cameras at Sunset Elementary School captured a female shooting a cat with a bow and arrow and a total of four trespassers, who appear to be juveniles, dragging the animal’s carcass.

December 2016/Kaena Point, Hawaii

CivilBeat.org reported that a 19-year-old and two juvenile suspects had been arrested and charged after allegedly killing 17 albatrosses. The birds—who are federally and internationally protected—were reportedly killed in a wildlife sanctuary. The suspects were also said to have smashed their eggs and cut the feet off some of the animals.

September 2013/Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

NYDailyNews.com reported that a teenager had posted footage online of himself torturing a tiger shark. His actions weren’t considered illegal because there were no signs in the harbor to indicate that fishing is prohibited.