Posted on 12/13/2018 5:34:28 AM PST by cll
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Congress on Wednesday gave final passage to legislation that would shut down legal cockfights in U.S. territories including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, ending an institution dating from the colonial era that generates millions of dollars each year.
Opponents of the measure approved by the House said it will have a devastating effect on the islands' economies, noting that in Puerto Rico alone the cockfighting industry generates $18 million a year and employs some 27,000 people.
“We're all going crazy. Everybody is desperate,” said 86-year-old Angel Ortiz, who owns a cockfighting ring in the city of Bayamon. “There are so many people who make a living off of this.”
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello traveled to Washington to demand that the island be excluded, but he arrived too late. Legislators unexpectedly moved up the vote and approved the bill, which already passed the Senate.
Cockfighting in Puerto Rico was first officially recognized in 1770, but the practice was banned after the U.S. invaded the island in 1898. It wasn't until 1933 that it was declared an official sport and became known as the “gentleman's sport” because of its honor-based betting system.
In October 2010, Puerto Rico legislators voted in favor of a resolution to protect cockfights, stating they are an integral part of the island's folklore and patrimony.
Officials warn that the ban will lead to unemployment on an island already dealing with a 12-year recession.
“It is a cultural and economic pillar for Puerto Ricans,” Public Affairs Secretary Ramon Rosario said. “In addition to its cultural value, the cockfighting industry is the only source of livelihood for thousands of Puerto Rican families.”
Well maybe they’ll be outraged enough to declare independence.
Than Q!
Some critics reject that cockfighting has any cultural value. Ashley Byrne, associate director with PETA, said in a phone interview that the bill was long overdue and will help protect animals.
Kind of my feeling. Well, maybe if they stay busy with this they can’t screw us up as much...
Is this like ‘sword fighting’?
How long before someone demands a ban on vagina fighting?
LMAO!
It’s a brutal blood sport like bullfightingwhich is also banned in the US.
I think dog fighting is or should be also.
Human savages have a history of fighting
brute animals for their edification like stallions and camels.
In a word: gambling.
Dog fighting is illegal. So is attending a dogfight.
There was a cockfighting ring broken up in Oregon, some while back. The deputy said it wasn’t the dirtbags you’d expect in attendance.
English nobility used to have clandestine entrances to dogfighting/bullbaiting events.
It’s not just “savages. “
Have they asked “Spartcus” his opinion on this? (Can’t think of his name).
Sounds like something Ocassio-Cortez might introduce after she takes her oath of office.
This won’t go down well in Louisiana or Arkansas.
Maybe Missouri too...
“Why is this any of the feds’ business?”
I have mixed feelings on this where I do not like to see cruelty to animals at the hands of humans. However I agree with your statement because this is just one of the gazillion overreaches of the federal government. Simply put, this is not a federal issue. Period.
It should be kept at the state/territorial level where if the local culture finds this acceptable, then so be it. In defense of this culture, animals are already by nature cruel to one another, take eating their prey alive for example, or torturing their prey before eating them alive. It’s how nature works.
Now we know what happened to the dinosaurs.
It’s on the down-low anyway, isn’t it?
University of South Carolina will have to change it’s nickname from Gamecocks, I guess.
Maybe Indians or Cherokee or something like that.
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