Alabama government grapples with pressing issue: Cockfighting
Members of an Alabama House committee have heard impassioned and conflicting over a bill to dramatically increase penalties for cockfighting.
Bird breeders argued Wednesday that the animals are often raised for shows and not for fighting. Officials with the Humane Society described cockfighting as a cruel practice and said the birds often have sharp blades on their legs.
The House Agriculture and Forestry Committee did not vote after the public hearing that lasted for about two hours.
Currently it’s a misdemeanor to participate in cockfights, with a fine of $20 to $50. The bill debated Wednesday would carry a fine of up to $10,000 and up to one year in jail for a first conviction. It would provide a $20,000 fine and one to 10 years in prison for a second conviction.
Well, at least if they’re troubling themselves with such issues they aren’t messing up other things at the moment.
Rep. Phil Williams is on the committee that deals with cockfighting and had some amusing comments via his Twitter and Facebook feeds:
2 hour hearing on cockfighting. Just shoot me.
3hours of cockfighting. Now it’s about gambling. Can I make an “electronic cockfighting machine”???
Now it’s about the fights and violent crimes that break out at cockfights. Anyone remember “little Jerry Seinfeld”???
More than 3 birds constitutes “a flock of cocks”.
Good to see a politician with a sense of humor. I can’t help but wonder if this is what he anticipated when he ran for office. I’m sure candidates have big dreams of the sweeping changes and reforms they’ll enact once elected, but then they win and what do they deal with? Cockfighting.
As a big Seinfeld fan I feel obliged to post the highlights of the “Little Jerry Seinfeld” episode.
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Am I a horrible person for not caring if people want to watch poultry fight to the death? As long as they eat the loser afterwards, I do not really care (it is wrong to waste food).
Brian, have you ever heard the story of “Rick Rooster”? There are people in the Waterloo, Al/Walnut Grove, Tn area who say he was the greatest “athlete” to ever come out of Alabama. According to local legend, he won 540 straight cockfighting matches. He could’ve kept the streak going but he was tragically killed when the moonshine distillery next door to his nest blew up one night in 1979. He was one tough old bird from what they claimed. They said he even survived an attack from Buford Pusser one night at a cockfighting match at that infamous motel over there on the stateline. They said Buford was shooting at anything that moved that night but “Rick” was only slightly grazed. Oh and btw Im being serious. Its a very true story from what Ive been told.
i’d forgotten how funny the seinfeld show could be. i know guys out here who raise fighting roosters. fighting dogs, fighting roosters — aint right.
Ivan your correct on that point sir. Ive never personally seen dead or injured roosters that were involved in cockfighting. But I had a dog come up in my yard and die when I lived in Cullman and I tell you it was a sight Ill never forget. My neighbors yard the previous night was crowded and I could hear dogs barking so it was obvious what was going on. It was pretty bad off though and Ill leave it at that….
Cockfighting is completely legal and a well respected past time in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
The Humane Society has no sway down there.
Just saying.
cockfighting commentary reminds me of bingo issue. it aint bingo — it’s slots looking like bingo. with cockfighting — it’s not the sport, it’s not which bird is a better fighter — it’s really a way to gamble.
a “flock of cocks”? funny, that is exactly what i have been calling the legislature’s rules committee for years…