Cracking Down on Cockfighting
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon sponsored the House version of the act, frustrated that prosecutors were unwilling to pay attention to a crime punishable only as a misdemeanor.
"In the Northwest they're finding piles of cash, pounds of drugs, evidence of illegal gambling and gang activity, but it was something they wouldn't touch," Blumenauer tells NEWSWEEK. "There's an amazing number of people in denial, people willing to apologize for and protect this shadow enterprise."
Blumenauer credits the Vick case with drawing attention to animal fighting, along with growing concerns about avian flu and other communicable diseases.
"You're transporting these chickens all over the country, exposing them to potential infection," Blumenauer says. "The likelihood of infecting the poultry supply skyrockets."
The defendants in the Northwest face up to 18 years in prison and $1 million in fines, plus the forfeiture of any property involved in cockfighting. Those also indicted on drug charges could face life in prison. Blumenauer and others say they hope authorities' renewed interest in busting cockers will be sustained, and that participants in the practice will be discouraged from keeping up the habit, now that the chickens have come home to roost.
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Member Comments
Posted By: Brien Comerford @ 05/12/2008 8:07:06 PM
Comment: Bullfighting, cockfighting, dogfighting, hunting, trapping, slaughterhouses and all forms of animal abuse are monstrous atrocities that verify that too many humans are rife with inhumane cruelty, violence and irreverence for life.
Posted By: Pokerman11 @ 04/01/2008 9:56:44 PM
Comment: Having been to cockfights and know people that have farms. It???s a sad story all around. What used to be bright beautiful farms full of exotic birds are now vacant areas with broken homes and auctioned land.
Here is how I see it. First off it???s not a human, it???s a chicken. Do not put human values on a chicken. Anyway these are not henny penny white breeds of chickens, they kill each other. There can be only one male in the area. Three brothers raised by the same mother will live together for about two months then if not separated one will kill the other two. This is natural, as most like many other the dominate male kills all rivals. Its how evolution works. This trait has been breed out of domesticated chickens, as well as most produce chicken males are killed two days after birth.
Is it cruel to let these birds attack each other for sport and fund? It???s all a matter of your perspective. People seem to think these chickens are people, so let???s go ahead and put some human values on these birds. Unlike wild or farm chickens, a gamebird gets the best care and environment possible for two years. It really is a golden life for them, free from natural predators, safe from their male counterparts (who would have killed them), the best food and veterinary possible.
Then they get a fighting chance to live on. A good gamebird will fight four or five times and then be retired, more often than not to be a brood ***. As his bloodline is important. Winners get a chance to live.
I find it ironic when farms get raided and authorities then euphonize the birds. Personally if I was a chicken, I would like to live my golden life and have a fighting chance as opposed to being killed by the Humane Society.
I personally never enjoyed the actual bloodspot, but did enjoy the people and seeing the birds and engaging conversations about history of bloodlines, animal husbandry, and most importantly the birds themselves ??? they are beautiful, lively and fascinating. If you live within 200 yards of your neighbor I don???t expect you to understand any of this. The world is different to those that see more green than concrete.
For the most part farms have been shut down, flocks killed, and new birds will not be born. I find it strange that we are condemning these breeds of birds to a fate worse than the chicken fights. There is no longer a fighting chance for these birds, they will just be killed and future flocks never born. Doesn???t it seem cruel to commit gamecocks to death and a fate worst than death ??? non-existence By being ???Humane??? we are denying entire generations ???from ever being born, and executing the ones now around. I can???t see how this is good for the chicken. People should look at what???s best for the chicken for if they had then we would have not outlawed this activity.
Personally, I???d rather be born, live a good life and then have a fighting chance.
Posted By: Pokerman11 @ 04/01/2008 9:56:06 PM
Comment: having been to cockfights and know people that have farms. It's a sad story all around. What used to be bright b