Noting that a certain political superstar got his start in a state legislature (anyone remember Illinois state Senator Obama?), Stephen Colbert has decided to get a jump on the potential presidential candidates of tomorrow by introducing a new segment on The Colbert Report,  Mr. Smith Goes to the State Legislature Then Later Possibly Washington.

The inaugural segment featured state Rep. Curt Oda, a Republican from Utah who has introduced legislation that would weaken the state’s animal cruelty laws to allow the killing of feral animals by shooting (with either a gun or a bow and arrow), clubbing, or decapitating.

Animal rights activists have taken issue not only with thecruelty of the killing methods permitted by the bill, but also with the vagueness surrounding how one forms a “reasonable belief” that an animal is actually feral, rather than a beloved pet who slipped outside without a collar.

Animal advocate Ann Davis believes that lethal injection is the only humane way to put down animals. Davis has concerns about the bill’s ramifications. “How do you differentiate a feral cat from somebody’s beloved pet? Most often you don’t put a collar on a cat.” Davis fears that if the bill is passed into law, it might open up the floodgates to the mass killings of animals.

Can you imagine if just anyone with a big rock could get away with bashing in the skull of a cat or dog?

"The public is not trained to determine what a feral animal is," said Humane Society Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. "By appearance it may not be feral. For a cat, if it's not nice, it may just be an old cat."

Stray kitties and puppies beware! Make sure your pets are inside and check out the segment:

Regrettably, some opponents of the bill have stooped to sending Rep. Oda threatening emails. We at the DLCC denounce such tactics and call on opponents of the bill to express their sentiments in a more thoughtful and civil manner. Threats and violence have no place in our democracy.