Court Upholds Cockfighting Ban

Reuters ^ | Wed, Mar 31, 2004

[presidio9]

The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a ban on cockfighting despite the efforts of enthusiasts of the blood sport, who had tried to block the measure for over a year.

Opponents of the ban had worked on a regional basis to prevent the law from being enforced in various localities, saying the ban was arbitrary, allowed for the unfair seizure of property and imposed penalties that were too harsh.

The court rejected these claims in a unanimous decision, saying the law was constitutional.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson had argued for the ban on behalf of the state and said "this ruling is a victory for the voters of Oklahoma."

The ban, passed in November 2002 by a statewide vote of 54 percent to 46 percent, carries penalties of one to 10 years in prison for those convicted of engaging in the cockfighting business, as well as fines of up to $25,000.

Judges in about 25 counties, mostly in southeast Oklahoma, had suspended enforcement of the ban.

Cockfighting is illegal in all other states except Louisiana and New Mexico.

[Frank_Discussion]

I'm getting sick of all the gay marriage stories. Oh, wait... nevermind...

[Enterprise]

"The ban, passed in November 2002 by a statewide vote of 54 percent to 46 percent, carries penalties of one to 10 years in prison for those convicted of engaging in the cockfighting business, as well as fines of up to $25,000."

Convict #1: "I'm doing ten years for manslaughter. What are you in for?"

Convict #2: "Cockfighting."

[presidio9]

Believe it or not, I posted this because I honestly want to hear what people think about the sport. I went to a cockfight in Peurto Rico years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Young Rhino]

Went to one in Mexico. Loved it.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Convict #1: "I'm doing ten years for manslaughter. What are you in for?"

Convict #2: "Cockfighting."

Convict #1: "I'm in love"


Sorry, was a softball. Had to take a swing at it.

[Frank_Discussion]

Okay. I'm not a PETA-guy, but I have to say having animal bloodsport is kinda off my list of personally-approved activities.

[Modernman]

I saw a cockfight in the Dominican Republic. They do look cool, but they really are cruel. Like bull-baiting and dog-fighting, this is one sport that should be outlawed.

[Fierce Allegiance]

there were a bunch of portuguese near where i grew up that were into this. OK, i think PETA is a bunch of whacks, but the way these guys treated the birds and dogs was sick.

If the bird was mortally injured but not dead, they would just chuck it in a barrel and let it die real slow. If they killed it it would be better imho. The useless dogs were luckier, they got shot.

It's one thing to kill animals for consumption, but to let them die slowly and painfully for entertainment is not cool.

[najida]

One thing to raise or hunt and eat an animal. Another to get your jollies from watching them suffer.

Something is vile and twisted about people who think it is 'fun'.

The law is good (though, personally, I would prefer 10 minutes alone with the convicted ;))

[TopQuark]

Cockfighting is illegal in all other states except Louisiana and New Mexico.

And that's only because they have no cocks left.

[TopQuark]

Why would you even call it a sport?

Is random shooting from a moving car a sport? Those who priactice it think so, but I hope you do not. Similarly, why repeat someone's judgment that cockfighting is a sport?

Bullfighting is not a sport either. People find violence entertaining, but this is not a sport.

[Sloth]

I thought SCOTUS had already ruled in Lawrence v. Texas.

[Sloth]

Bullfighting would be a sport if they wouldn't drug the bull first. Similarly, deer hunting would be a sport if you did it with a knife.

[Cold Heat]

I have seen this a time or two.

It is still popular in my area.

I just can't seem to get teary eyed over a chicken.

[CzarNicky]

Pray they don't ban putting squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.

[hchutch]

I'm of two minds on this.

I don't like seeing animals treated cruelly. At the same time, I enjoy eating meat (beef, chicken, veal, etc.), and really don't want PETA getting much of anything it wants.

Quite frankly, there are more pressing issues at times than whether people are tossing a couple of roosters into a pit and charging admission for those who wish to see the roosters go ten rounds (or twelve, or however many rounds there are in a cockfight).

[hchutch]

I agree. When two roosters get together, there's a very high chance of a fight.

That's nature. If people want to buy tickets to watch it, it's their money to waste.

[RipSawyer]

"Bullfighting would be a sport if they wouldn't drug the bull first."

This is news to me, I went to the bull fights in Barcelona forty years ago, when did they start drugging the bull?

[eastonjack]

10 years in prison! haha Americans are funny and cruel to her people. In my country, only rapists and drug dealers or some sort like that would get that much of a sentence.