Dear Governor Daniels:

Please put a stop to Snapperfest 2012.

Snapperfest is a yearly festival that basically honors animal abuse by allowing its competitors to harm snapping turtles for winnings. The contestants grab the turtles by their tails, swing them around, yank their heads from their shells, and then attempt to wrap their fists around the turtles' necks. Children and families are encouraged to watch.

Proponents claim the festival is "good clean fun" — but this is a bold-faced lie. More often than not the turtles are irrevocably injured and many of them die from stress. Moreover, exposing children to this kind of abuse predisposes them to other forms of abuse in the future. In fact, many criminals have proven to have been abused, witnessed abuse, or abused animals themselves as children.

These are behaviors that we should not and cannot promote to America's young children. Aside from that, these poor snapping turtles deserve to be left alone.

Please make sure Snapperfest 2012 — and all future Snapperfests — are banned immediately.

Thank you.