It has come to my attention that a vile series of videos is spreading on the black market and on the Internet. So-called animal crush films depict horrific acts of cruelty against animals. In them, animals are slowly crushed, impaled, drowned and otherwise tortured to death for the amusement of a few demented individuals.

Fortunately, federal legislation is now pending that would impose a fine and/or a maximum prison term of five years for anyone who sells or offers to sell an animal crush video via interstate or foreign commerce.

At the request of many concerned residents of Ocean County, I have contacted U.S. senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez to ask them to support this important bill.

The new law would give police a powerful new tool to apprehend those individuals who profit through pain. Of course, the perpetrators of these heinous videos are also subject to existing federal, state and local animal cruelty codes.

This despicable and inhumane animal torture is reprehensible beyond words. It defies belief to think that a human being could deliberately torment and kill a helpless animal and then film it for entertainment purposes. I ask everyone to contact senators Lautenberg and Menendez and urge them to support HR Bill 5092.

Joseph H. Vicari

Freeholder

Ocean County Board of Freeholders

Toms River