State Rep. Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills) has taken to Facebook to respond to a mail piece from his opponent, Lloyd Peeples, for House District 48 that points to his vote on Beau's Law, a bill that was passed at the end of the session.
"Carns voted against basic protections for dogs," the piece says across the top on one side before describing two points of the bill. "District 48 Deserves a Representative Who Understands What Matters to You."
Carns says his record shows that he's a strong advocate for animals.
“Today, my opponent attacked me with a mailer over my vote on an animal bill this session. Let me be clear: I do not support animal cruelty—I never have and I never will. In fact, I helped make animal cruelty a felony in Alabama in 2000 and worked to expand those protections in 2013," Carns said on social media.
"I voted no on 'Beau’s Law' for a reason. Even after amendments, the bill lacked clear enforcement standards and placed new burdens on counties without funding. Most importantly, it went too far and could have punished responsible pet owners. It created potential criminal charges if a dog accidentally escaped a yard, required dog houses to have a 'solid floor,' and allowed non-law enforcement to enter private property and potentially take your pet," he added.
"That’s not common sense—and it’s not fair," Carns went on to say.
The second side of the mailer shows a photo of Peeples' family with a message to the voters.
"District 48 deserves more than campaign promises, and as your representative, I'll deliver results that you can see," Peoples is quoted as saying.
"My opponent knows he can’t win this race on his own merits, so he’s resorting to distorting my record. The truth is clear: I have consistently supported strong animal cruelty laws while standing up for responsible pet owners and against government overreach—and I will continue to do both," Carns said in his statement.
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