The pit bull controversy has been raised once again, most recently in Parachute, where a proposed ban of the animals met defeat. Proponents of pit bulls always seem to excuse the dogs’ aggressive behavior by saying that it’s not the breed, it’s their training or lack thereof, always focusing the blame on bad owners.

But consider this: When our human ancestors domesticated wolves eons ago, various breeds gradually evolved — through human intervention — with adaptations for the work they helped humans do, such as hunting, guarding, herding, etc. Pit bulls were developed for one purpose: to fight. And the fighting was done in pits, hence the name pit bull. In fact, dog fighting was probably the first spectator sport.

Over thousands and thousands of years, this trait was bred into these dogs just as the herding instinct was bred into the border collie. One could raise a border collie in an apartment in New York City (heaven forbid!), but if it sees a flock of ducks in Central Park, it will instinctively try to “herd” them — it’s in the dog’s genes.

Similarly, pit bulls are at the mercy of the fighting instincts incorporated into their genetic makeup. And remember, only the victorious survived the fight to pass on those genes. The dogs can’t change their instincts, nor can any human; humans can only make them worse by the lack of proper of training. Proponents of the breed also cite the fact that all dogs bite, and they certainly will if provoked. But most other dogs don't kill. It’s this vicious reputation that makes pit bulls the dog of choice for drug dealers, felons and other criminals.

With or without responsible owners, the fact remains that pit bulls (and American bulldogs, a cross between pit bulls and bull terriers) are unpredictably dangerous, and the key word here is unpredictable. These breeds are ticking time bombs! One never knows just what scent or subtle response from a person will set them off and cause them to attack. Case in point, the woman in Florida who was killed recently by the two pit bulls she had not only raised, but slept with from birth. Once that killer instinct kicked in, the woman didn't have a chance. How many people must be maimed or killed before we realize these fighting breeds may no longer have a place in civilized society?

<i>Pat Martin is a Grand Junction resident.</i>