http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breed-specific_legislation

This was passed not long ago, I believe.

They're banned in Autrailia, Britain, and some places in the US.

Their reputations have taken over peoples minds, unlike most other dogs. There has been many hated dog breeds, but Pits get the most effect. 
The other dogs breeds that have been hated is Staffies, Rotties, German Shepherds, Akitas, Chows, Dobermans, and now Pits. Notice, that all dogs have strong builds, and are larger dogs.

Though, another reason why the breeds reputation like this, is people themselves.

People like Michael Vick and other dog fighters ruin the reputation. Dog fighting leads to agression in the dogs behavior, and those dogs are sometimes let loose on the street. Once they're let loose, the chaos starts. It is illegal to start dogfighting, but sometimes it happens within itself. When people meet in a city like area or a park, they will have a ridiculous "lets see which dog is better" fights, and then the dog turns into a vicious animal and goes to eat the owner.

Also what causes problems is when people go out and buy a pitbull, without knowing a breed. Well, pitbulls are a very advanced breed and people need to know a lot about the breed and dogs to handle the breed. If you know the breed and raise it right, it probably will not be agressive. Also what can cause agression is being ignored.

Also, many people do not realize how many little dogs can also be aggressive. I have heard many bites from poodles and Chihuahuas. Also, I know a Maltese who has bitten many people. What puzzles me is that these dogs are not hated, and Pits are. Many people become scared into it by hearing them on the news and just by looks, but many of which, have never met a Pit that was correctly raised. Obviously if you meet a pit who is chained up by a doghouse and skinny will not be friendly. But if you go into a shelter and see a pit lying next to someone and the dog is sleeping, it was raised correctly. There is behind the scenes footage of pits, not just the ones you hear on the news. the news is for unhappy news most of the time, and they include a story like that to do their job. You don't hear "A Lost Pit Gets Reunited With Owner" on the news. You don't hear it anywhere. You only hear the bad things. The news is one of the causes. Yes, that is their job to report, but it has poisoned the public's minds of the breed.

It in their nature to be agressive, but isn't that the case with any dog breed? Obviously, if you slapped a dog hard enough it'd bite you. Pits may be just a little more sensitive, but I just see them as a regular dog breed. If you try to take a pits toy lying next to him, like any other dog, it would grab it. Also, I heard of a story that the people were forcing the Pit to do something -- If it is not nescessary, do not force the dog, or get a dog treat to make the animal come inside.  Like any other dog, when a dog doesn't want to do something, it will growl or bite.

Invasion of territory also causes problems. With any breed. You need to introduce dogs and let them sniff each other first, before just throwing a Maltese with a Rottie and not expecting the worst. Many people say to introduce in a far away area, where the dog does not have territory.

In addition, I was in a room with 2 pits not long ago. I had 2 pits sleeping next to me. All they wanted was a family and even got along with other dogs. I've been in small rooms with Staffies, Rotties, Chows, Akitas, Shepherds, and 2 Dobermans at a time. All of them were good with other dogs, and non of which were agressive.

Just the other day I was in a room with a Pitbull puppy. Strong, loud, playful, yes. Mean? no. He wanted belly rubs, someone to lay on. His head was on my sister's lap, and then mine. He ran around, and soon slept next to us when he was finally tired.



Thoughts? [disagree with it, agree with it, etc.] Thats my opinion.