Thanks for joining me Over Coffee
A writer by passion and profession, I've been writing since I was old enough to know how, so establishing a weblog
seemed a natural progression. By adding a blog to my site, I can speak about my passions and life, share my writing, art
and photos, and comment on current events.
Thursday, January 09, 2003
ADDENDUM to Sunday's post on Cockfighting in Oklahoma... Apparently The Oklahoman doesn't leave stories live long. If you want to read the article now, you'll have to search the archive and pay for it (sorry!). I have learned that the day after I posted this, The Oklahoma ran another news story, "Creek County joins ban on cockfighting," (I won't bother with a link since they expire so quickly) bringing the count to 22 counties and yesterday in Tulsa World (another pay to read online newspaper) another article announced: "Cockfighting: Pawnee County is No. 23 to grant stay on ban." Twenty-three counties? Apparently some people only want a democracy just so long as the votes go their way...
"With a fight-to-the-death determination reflective of their controversial pastime, Utah breeders of game fowl say they are not inclined to abandon their hobby in the face of a new federal crackdown on cockfighting. In May, a provision in the new federal farm bill will make interstate transportation or export of roosters used for cockfighting illegal. The measure closes a loophole in the 1976 Animal Welfare Act that allowed gamecock breeders to ship their birds to states or countries where chicken fighting is legal. Cockfighting has been illegal in Utah since 1888. New Mexico and Louisiana are the only states where it is legal to pit roosters against each other in mortal combat for entertainment or wagering."
Interestingly also to note in these articles that some people view cockfighting as a 'hobby' -- one their children shouldn't be deprived of -- while others claim that cockfighting is their much needed livelihood with some putting the value of their gamecocks at $150 to $250 per rooster. Those who claim cockfighting is their livelihood call laws banning it unfair because it deprives them of valuable 'property' without compensation, but...don't these same people risk losing these animals (to serious injury or death) each time they fight them?
