ok, 1.) Species is an argument of classification, not anything to do with reality.
Its a paper term. In theory ,when the term was created, animals from different species couldn't interbreed. Research has found out you can get into different families and their can be interbreeding.
So a fish is the same thing as a bird or a monkey? Species is a real concept and has a lot to do with reality.
Which brings us to reality. In reality you can ban a type of Dog as easily as you can ban a type of mammal (ie Jaguars).
You can make the law, but it doesn't create the desired effect. If all you want is to not see pitbulls in the streets tomorrow, you can accomplish that. It wouldn't be easy since that actually isn't a breed so you have the problem of trying to determine if a dog is a pitbull or a mix or a boxer or a mastiff or a mix of those.... But even if you eliminated all pitbulls tomorrow, that isn't going to stop dog bites. You'd have to keep on going to the natural next step: get the German Shepherds! Then the next step after that would probably be Rotties... then Presas... then Dobies... then Chows... then Akitas.... then Great Danes... Then St Bernards... then Huskies.... eventually ending with Yorkies and Pomeranians (all of these dogs have been involved in fatal attacks in the US).
If the breed of an animal mattered not, consider this: A mountain lion is technically a small cat, closely related to the average tabby cat. Its not a large breed cat, its a large small breed cat.
A mountain lion is not a tabby. Species matters.
Let me put it this way. Why NOT ban the breed? If all breeds of dog are equal, what need have you for a pit bull? Get another large breed dog instead.
All large breeds are equal in their ability to cause harm. That doesn't make them equal in their suitability as pets for different people. If you don't get that concept, then I'm guessing you aren't really a dog person.
I actually don't have a Pitbull, but here is why I like them better than some other big breeds. They are playful, intelligent, trainable, quiet, short haired (an issue for me), loving, energetic and remarkably stable dogs. They score higher on temperament testing than Golden Retrievers. They are the kind of dog you can take anywhere and will adapt well to almost any situation. They adapt pretty well to apartment living. They are an extremely healthy breed (no hip dysplasia, no heart conditions).
But Pit bulls are not like other dogs, I have been attacked by 2 of them. Both loving family pets who went to obedience school. They just decided they didn't like me.
Now no big deal for any other dog, ya a dog mauling sucks, but you can pry a German Shep. or a Lab off you. And if you can't, a couple of bystanders easily can.
You can't with a pit bull, its stronger than a trio of adults, and impervious to punching or kicking when they have a hold of your arm. It took a few blows from a fire extinguisher to the head the get the thing to let go long enough to try and pin it.
With a bite stick, my mother could get a pitbull off of anything. No one who owns a strong dog should be unknowledgeable about those devices. I wouldn't punch or kick any dog to get it off someone. First thing would be a bite stick, next step is lifting the back legs (per my father who I have seen break up dog fights in the blink of an eye).
I believe Akitas, Bullmastiffs, Mastiffs and Rottweilers all have similar strength in their jaws to pitbulls. Pitbulls don't have locking jaws or anything and there is no evidence that they exert more pounds per square inch than other breeds. National geographic even did a show about this once. It's more about the size of the dog. A 100lb Shepherd is going to be able to bite a lot harder than a 50lb pitbull http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dogs-701/dog-fights.htm The reason it can be harder to get a pitbull to give up is because they are often more tenacious than other breeds. That determination is a good quality in other circumstances. Frankly though, it doesn't really matter in determining the severity of the unjury. The damage done from a dog bite is done in the first second. The dog holding on isn't going to cause any more damage, though it certainly prolongs the pain.
I understand you not being comfortable around them if you've been attacked by them. The only breed of dog I've ever been really badly scared by was a German Shepherd who bit me when I was a papergirl. I wouldn't buy one and I avoid them when I can. That doesn't mean I think my experience justifies a breed ban.
If you think "Domestication' is a magic catch all, what about Elephants? They HAVE been domesticated for a long time.
Elephants have not been domesticated as long as dogs have. This is the last comment I'm going to make on other animals. I'll happily stay on the actual topic which is different dog breeds.
You know whats less dangerous than even a well trained pit bull? A gun. Its inert and just sits there. We do ban you from running around with an unlicensed gun.
So license pitbulls. License all large dogs. I personally have NO patience for people who keep those dogs improperly and wouldn't have a problem with licensing at all.
If you don't think you can ban a breed of dogs, reality disagrees. Its been done.
Sure, it's been done. And the results were just like I said: they find a new monster dog breed to freak out about. My bet is the next one will be Mastiffs.
