Posted on 10/14/2010 8:46:16 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
A bill announced yesterday by Representative Melinda Romero Donnelly to establish Puerto Rico's first animal registry including pit bulls and paso fino walking horses but not fighting cocks got off on the wrong foot.
The legislator said she does not consider cockfighting a sport or a cultural tradition, but rather "abuse" and maintained she will not allow "legalizing an illegal practice such as this one".
However, Recreation & Sports Department Secretary Henry Neumann said the bill "is political suicide" and that "it will never be approved".
Neumann indicated that cockfights are regulated by the Cockfighting Commission and that they involve an industry that officially generates around $30 million a year in gambling revenue.
The official added that it is estimated that what is reported is only a small portion.
Romero's bill contemplates creating an Animal Welfare, Wildlife, and Flora Code which would regulate the ownership of pets and exotic, domestic, service, and farm animals.
The legislator explained that the code compiles animal-protection laws and requires that animals be registered. The Guard Corps [of the Department of Natural & Environmental Resources] would be in charge of enforcing the code.
Romero said the proposed code would initially be funded with $1.7 million but indicated the registry would generate its own revenue. She said registering would cost $20.00 for a domestic-use animal and $25.00 for an exotic one.
She indicated that the bill would legalize ownership of pit bulls which, prospectively, would be categorized as potentially dangerous and whose registration would cost $300.
She said that farm animals and service animals such as guide dogs and police dogs will be free of cost. She added that paso fino and equestrian-use horses will be registered under the "animal athletes" special category.
"How about fighting cocks?" Primera Hora asked.
"They're not included," [Romero] said.
The senator (sic) maintained that the bill repeals the law that permits cockfighting.
"Cockfights would be in violation of the law because inciting two animals to fight would be prohibited," Romero said when announcing the bill during a press conference at the Capitol.
She stressed that she considers [cockfighting] "abuse", a violent act, and not a sport. "Nobody can tell me that is their natural state when you put spurs on them to fight. It's not a sport to me; it's a crime. I'm not going to legalize such a practice," she maintained.
ping
Only white people named "Clem" should be forbidden to engage in cock fighting!
Homosexual Agenda?
Why is that?... Is it a re-distribution of wealth thing?..
You mean it’s NOT banned in PR?
This is about control. The idea that some people are going to do things without asking permission just offends some people on general principles. She wants to register all animals. This isn't really about cockfighting, its about controlling people.
the proposed code would initially be funded with $1.7 million but indicated the registry would generate its own revenue.
I'll bet it will. Whats wrong with letting people be?
The Guard Corps [of the Department of Natural & Environmental Resources] would be in charge of enforcing the code.
So do people really want to invite the Guard Corps into their homes and personal business?
I share Romero’s views on cockfighting, but repealing the practice does not require all this animal regulation.
Thankfully, Louisiana banned cockfighting a few years ago (I believe New Mexico is the only state now allowing it). All Romero needs is language similar to our state law as follows:
LOUISIANA REVISED STATUTES (RS) 14:102.23
§102.23. Cockfighting
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Organize or conduct any commercial or private cockfight wherein there is a display of combat or fighting among one or more domestic or feral chickens and in which it is intended or reasonably foreseeable that the chickens would be injured, maimed, mutilated, or killed; or
(2) Possess, train, purchase, or sell any chicken with the intent that the chicken shall be engaged in an unlawful commercial or private cockfight as prohibited in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.
B. As used in this Section, the following words and phrases have the following meanings ascribed to them:
(1) “Chicken” means any bird which is of the species Gallus gallus, whether domestic or feral.
(2) “Cockfight” means a contest wherein chickens are set against one another with the intention that they engage in combat.
C.(1) Whoever violates the provisions of this Section, on conviction of a first offense, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
(2) On a conviction of a second offense, the offender shall be fined not less than seven hundred fifty dollars, nor more than two thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than six months nor more than one year, or both. In addition to any other penalty imposed, on a conviction of a second offense, the offender shall be ordered to perform fifteen eight-hour days of court-approved community service. The community service requirement shall not be suspended.
(3) On a conviction of a third offense, the offender shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars, nor more than two thousand dollars, and shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than three years. At least six months of the sentence imposed shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Acts 2007, No. 425, §1, eff. Aug. 15, 2008.
RS 14:102.24
§102.24. Participation in cockfighting
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to attend a cockfight, or to bet on a cockfight, or to pay admission at any location to view or bet on a cockfight.
B. As used in this Section, the following words and phrases have the following meaning ascribed to them:
(1) “Chicken” means any bird which is of the species Gallus gallus, whether domestic or feral.
(2) “Cockfight” means a contest wherein chickens are set against one another with the intention that they engage in combat.
C. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
Acts 2010, No. 114, §1.
I’m not a fan of chicken-fights either (thats what its called where I come from) but I did attend the fights when I was in San Juan.
One thing I noticed in comparison to the (one) fight I attended years ago in my home state. Where I come from the fights were to the death. The knives attached to the feet were quite sharp and did a lot of damage. They did not stop the fight until one of the chickens was dead; even going to what I thought were ridiculous lengths when it was clear the loser was the loser.
The fights in PR seem to go only to the point that you have a clear winner, when one chicken clearly dominated the other. Most of the time both chickens survived. It seemed to me to be much more humane than what I had seen on the mainland. The knives were not the same either and didn’t do nearly the damage I had seen where I come from.
Another point, I saw that chicken fights were very widespread in Venezuela, which means this is not some kind of cultural anomaly. It may not be my cup of tea, but part of being free is letting your neighbor be free too.
I’ll never think of of the word “glowstick” the same way. ;p
I’m against cockfighting. If only for it’s role in electing a democrat Governor of Oklahoma in 2002. They passed the ban via referendum but the elevated turnout among hickocrats wanting to save their “sport” was one of the key factors that helped hickocrat candidate Brad Henry score a narrow upset over Steve Largent.
Which is why cockfighting should be legal and its legality should not be placed on the ballot. : )
I’ve never been to a cockfight, nor do I wish to go to one, but I think that it would take more than concern for animal rights to shut down an industry that employs (directly or indirectly) 100,000 people in Puerto Rico (an island with a population below 4 million).
I had no idea it was so big in Puerto Rico.
I would like to see your champion rooster take on retired Senator Fritz “Foghorn Leghorn” Hollings. ;d
I think that NM banned cockfighting even earlier than LA did.
It's big. When I lived there, my father took me to a couple of cockfights. I found out that the "winner" comes out not much better than the loser. However, this is a big part of the tradition in PR so I don't think it will be banned.
It sounds pretty barbaric to me but since it’s such a big industry I agree with Auh2oRepublicans point. That’s a lot of jobs to throw away.
It’s not like they’re dogs, they’re brains are about the size of a pea I think.
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