HARTFORD, Conn. -- State lawmakers have proposed legislation to crack down on elephant abuse.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Eric Parker reported lawmakers intend to make it illegal to use tools that they said are used to hurt animals at the circus.

Parker reported animal rights activists showed videos at the state Capitol on Wednesday that they said demonstrates abuse.

"I quit the circus because the animal abuse was too much for me. It wasn't once in a while, it was every day," said Archele Hundley, who worked for the Ringling Brothers circus for two months last year.

Hundley described an incident she said she witnessed that represented the last straw for her.

"(A man) took the bull hook and swung it like a baseball bat into the elephant's ear canal and pulled down with all his body weight. This beating lasted for 30 to 45 minutes. She bled profusely from the entire side of her head," Hundley said.

Lawmakers have proposed legislation to ban devices that two lawmakers said are used to abuse the elephants: bull hooks and cattle prods.

"This could rip my hand open in a minute," said North Stonington state Rep. Diana Urban, D-District 43, who held the items in question up as she spoke. "It's a weapon and it could inflict pain."

North Haven state Rep. Steve Fontana, D-District 87, is a co-sponsor of the legislation, House Bill 6599

A Ringling Brothers representative said they don't abuse the elephants, but they do need the bull hook.

"It certainly would complicate our ability to safely and humanely handle our elephants," Ringling spokesman Thomas Albert said.

Ringling denied the allegations made by Hundley.

"There are almost 300 people who travel with this unit and we have one person six months later saying this happened. The things she described are certainly inconsistent with our policies," Albert said.

The bill would carry a penalty of a year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine for anyone convicted under the proposed law.

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