It’s been way over a year since Chris Butler’s huskies, Hoochie and Raley, were shot by Christopher Comins in Orange County, Florida. Finally, after unsuccessfully trying to get the two felony animal cruelty charges dismissed, Christopher Comins is headed for trial. Today, a judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against Comins.
Christopher Comins was caught on video shooting the dogs that were running about in a pasture with livestock last May. He said he was given permission by the land owner to shoot the dogs. Hoochie and Raley survived the shooting. But Hoochie lost an eye and Raley still has a bullet in him.
Comins also insists that the two dogs were about to attack him.
Back in October, lawyers for Comins argued that the charges he faces, the two counts of animal cruelty, are unconstitutional. After hours of testimony spread over the course of six days, Orange County circuit judge Bob LeBlanc denied the motions. Well, so much for Comins and his crack team of experts and lawyers.
Apparently Christopher Comins has *connections*. He has friends in low places and likes to throw his weight around. A blogger that set up a website about the shooting is now being sued by Comins. Take a look at the Barbarian Hillbilly Dog Assassin. Comins is suing him over his report on the shootings. The report on this blog is really chilling.
He’s placed another blog about his lawsuit with Comins at Comins vs. VanVoorhis.
Christopher Comins is not a stranger to the courts. In 2005 he was charged with Felony Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and pleaded No Contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge of Improper Display of a Weapon or Firearm. At the Barbarian Hillbilly Dog Assassin website, the entire video shot by an Irish tourist is available. It’s still hard to watch. I watched it just before doing this update. The two huskies weren’t attacking cattle, they were running amok amongst them. They made no threatening advances towards Comins. Yet he shot them nine times, even after they were down. Even after Chris Butler was shouting and running up to him. You can also see poor Mr. Butler completely distraught over his dogs. The girl taking the video expressed her shock at the shootings and was convinced one of the dogs was dead. It’s an awful video. I don’t ever want to view it again.
Besides, call me a square, call me gun-stupid-uneducated, but who in their right mind goes out to protect cattle with two 9mm handguns! Huh?
With a previous firearms conviction, this Comins should never be allowed to own a gun again. He was reckless out in that pasture. He shot Chris Butler’s dogs several times after they were down and suffering. He was also shooting too close to witnesses alongside the field.
He needs to do jail, be fined, and pay restitution. And for God’s sake, somebody take his guns away before something else gets shot.
You can see the original story along with the video and updates HERE.
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Thanks Andrea. Now let’s hope that this is the first step onthe road to justice for Raley and Hoochie. Chris Butler took responsibilty for the dogs to be running loose. Often in more rural areas people do let their dogs run off leash whether they are supposed to or not. Chris Butler tracked his beloved dogs down as quickly as he could but Comins was having too much fun using them for target practice. Butler’s screaming, begging and pleading went ignore by this gun toting wild west wannabe. Seems Comins likes guns, probably thinks it makes him a big man. He got away with it before, waving a gun and threatening a minor, probably though he was going to walk away from it again. He underestimated the love of a man for his dogs, a Irish tourist with a video camera, and the love and dedication of many dog and animal lovers out there, some of them who even have some clout too!
I will look forward to the outcome of this trial. I don’t necessarily espect a whole lot but even a small measure would be some justice. It would prove that he’s not as big a man as he thinks or as important. May justice prevail!
Allowed to own a gun again, Commins should not be allowed to walk among us. Good thing it was not children running around with the cattle. Like Andrea, I am no gun expert either, but seems to me the 9MM handguns are not the weapons of choice for a rancher of someone protecting their livestock. And nine times, maybe he thought Hocchie and Raley were cats, with all those extra lives.
Let's hope there is a jury and that they and the judge are as astute and mindful of the laws, as well as the evidence on the video, as Judge LeBlanc. A round of applause for him. Maybe this time justice will ride the trail and will end up victorious and ride off into the sunset as the hero, while Commins rides off to a prison sentence and a huge fine. But before that, let's hope Commins will also loose his lawsuit and end up losing big time financially to boot. That ought to give a leg of for justice. It would be about time.
I'm with you Peggy I hope he loses it all. Nothing makes me angrier than a person who thinks they are above the law and can just do as they please. what a piece of crap.
I think this attitude, of being above the law and even common human decency is behind a great deal of abuse and crime. It seems tied in with the way some law enforcement people shoot pets with no provocation, or tase people for no reason. We need to make it known that no one, no one is above the law. Wealth or position should make no difference, the fact that this criminal has 'connections' and a whole lot of money to throw around should make no difference. In a less corrupt society it wouldn't. I'm glad the Irish tourist came forward and the blogger is standing strong. Perhaps the common folk will be able to make a difference. I sure hope so. Sorry to sound so sour, I'm just up to here with these monsters.
I hope this idiot gets plenty of time in jail to think about his bastardly deeds. Thank God for the Irish visitor who caught this all on video. And, I too hope this owner gets money for what he and his animals endured. This man is a threat to society and these were not even his farm animals or his land that he was shooting these dogs on!!!!!!!!
He was convicted on an arms case previously so how is it he is still allowed to own a gun????????
Let me start with, Comins is way wrong….he had no need to shoot those dogs numerous times, as he did. What he was doing carying hand guns rather than a rifle to do this, I'll never know. Now…..don't ya all get upset with me for this, but…..out here in the "Ol' West", a rancher, DFG, local law enforcement, and F&G, all have the right (and the law behind them), to shoot ANY dog, chasing (rather there is intent to injure or just play), any livestock or deer, or elk in this area. This is why, a lot of people (not me in particular), use shock collars to train their dogs. Another sore subject that I won't go into. If their dog starts chasing after deer, cattle or any other herd animal, they will be shot on site. However, these individuals do NOT, I repeat, do NOT, shoot out of malice, or to mame, or unload their "pistols". It is most likely a shotgun they use and one sure shot. For this reason, out here in th "Ol' West", you best have your dog trained NOT to chase these animals. And yes, a lot of dogs run loose with their owners out here (it's the mountains and woods, not the city streets…difficult for the two to understand each other). There are no leash laws in the mountains and woods of these areas. SO…..bottom line. If you live out here, and you and your dog run around, play and enjoy these beautiful mountains, you should have your dog well trained, in control on voice commands (Sage is), and know the laws if your dog DOES chase after lifestock, etc. If your dog gets shot doing this, it is the owners fault, not the law enforcement/land owner's fault. Now…in this case, this idiot tried to MURDER these dogs. He did not shoot to stop, he shot to kill and viciously. This is not the way and he should be prosecuted for this in the highest degree, #1…for using pistols (for pity's sake) and #2…shooting numerous times, unnecessarily. All I will say on this (in defense of what the law is where there is lifestock, deer, and elk). I'm sure I will get slack on this, but had to voice my opinion, again……sorry.
this bastard could have shot in the air and the dogs may have scattered, but yes I agree people need to protect their dogs from this kind of attack, whether or not we have leash laws in place, they can be hit by a vehicle, they could have been trampled by the cattle. who do we blame then? this guy sounds like a menace, regardless, which would make me more conscious of where my boys are at all times. too many loose cannons to trust chance with their lives. makes me wonder what he will do to a teen trespassing on his property, will he shoot to kill, maim?
I hope they heal and get passed this incident, the poor souls, all concerned, and this jerk needs some jail time, he is a repeat offender and it sounds like some officials in the county are too.
Well I'm for the dogs, and I think this miserable SOB should be arrested,go to prison, have his guns taken away from him( he has as much buisness with a gun as a 2 year old),and pay for all the medical and legal fees etc., and pay for the pain and suffering.
There is one thing I do wonder: Why this guy that owns the Huskies didn't jump on this SOB and stomp him into the ground and then cram those guns down his throat?
Mr. Cumins is criminally insane and should be confined behind bars and NEVER allowed to own or use fire arms again. Not only did he carefully and deliberately shoot at the dogs in a way that testfies to his insane lust for cruelty, he also SHOT AT THE CROWD!!! People felt bullets whistling by. I think he should be prosecuted for endangering people as well as harming these poor dogs.
I wonder how this trial is doing. I've been down and seen the dogs. I hope Chris Comins' stalling tactics do not help his case. There are no punishments allowed that are suitable ! Why was he out there in the first place with two guns on his person? Is this what he does for an evening ride nightly? I also have a Siberian and know that these dogs were just curious.They like my companion probably think cows are just big dogs and wanted to sniff noses. Mine has sniffed noses with cows, burros, and horses. He's sat calmly within 10 feet of deer often . In this instance, there was no circling like when animals hunt. Chris B. contact me – -.
Gary, the trial date has not been scheduled yet. I just checked the Orange County Court Clerk's website. As soon as it is, we will post updates. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey any news on this POS??????
Next trial date is a status hearing on April 8, 2010.
Btw, it looks like WKMG 6 selectively disabled the sound for its news videos pertaining the dog shooting.
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/16453702/detail….
Maybe its just a problem with my computer–although the sound works just fine for all other news videos from the same dates.
This sure would be a slap in the face to journalistic integrity.