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January 29, 2010

Minor offense? — 02/01/10

Bill would add needed teeth to law against cockfighting

Anonymous The Daily Independent Fri Jan 29, 2010, 03:45 PM EST

It took far too many years for the Kentucky General Assembly and the courts to clearly state that cockfighting is against the law in Kentucky.

Now, the Humane Society of the United States is lobbying for the 2010 Kentucky General Assembly to enact a law against cockfighting that is strong enough to effectively discourage this barbaric blood sport in the state.

House Bill 169, sponsored by Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Louisville, is not just limited to cockfighting. It would amend Kentucky’s animal cruelty law to make promoting or being a spectator at any animal fight a felony. While cockfighting certainly is the most popular blood sport in Kentucky, one need only to be reminded of the legal problems of NFL quarterback Michael Vick to realize that dogfighting still exists in this country.

While cockfighting is a felony in 39 states, it is only a Class A misdemeanor in Kentucky with a maximum penalty of $500. There is enough money made from gate receipts and gambling at illegal cockfights in the state to make the threat of receiving only a $500 fine worth the risk.

In a new survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., 72 percent of Kentucky voters supported making cockfighting a felony.

“These survey results confirm what we have long known: Kentucky residents won’t tolerate the cruelty of cockfighting or its association with gambling, drugs and other illicit crimes,” said Pam Rogers, Kentucky state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “An anemic penalty for such a serious crime is out of step with the mainstream values of Kentucky voters. We need a legislative remedy to set meaningful penalties and provide a real deterrent.”

With such overwhelming public support for Kentucky ending its distinction of having one of the nation’s weakest animal cruelty laws, one would think H.B. 169 would easily win approval by the 2010 General Assembly, but experience tells us that it faces an uphill battle.

While the thought of paying to watch two roosters fight until death appalls and sickens most Kentuckians, there is a corps of loyal supporters of cockfighting in the state who see nothing wrong with the bloody sport. Indeed, illegal cockfights continue to draw large crowds in the state, and in at least some cases, local law enforcement officers look the other way and allow the fights to continue.

“Increasing the penalties for cockfighting in Kentucky is not only the humane thing to do, but it is good government,” said Jenkins. “The economic cost of cockfighting to county governments and law enforcement agencies is significant. Gambling and narcotic convictions associated with cockfighting increase financial pressure on our jails and our local and state government budgets.”

We agree. Cockfighting is against the law in Kentucky, but the law is so weak it does little to discourage the sport. The 2010 General Assembly can change that by approving H.B. 169.

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Bill would add needed teeth to law against cockfighting

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