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Cockfighting bill should stifle animal cruelty
It seems almost comical, encouraging Tennnessee’s legislators to get tough on cockfighting. But that is what we are encouraging the General Assembly to do this year.
Legislators heard disturbing testimony this week about how due to the state’s lax laws on cockfighting, Tennessee is becoming a mecca for cockfighting mavens.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation agent testified before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, saying the fact cockfighters that operate “pits” — or fighting facilities — only face a misdemeanor criminal charge and small fines in Tennessee means they are coming here in droves to do business.
Many might view cockfighting as a cliché — something backwoods Southerners do to amuse themselves. The truth is that animal fighting in most cases is a serious crime and should be considered one as far as cockfighting goes.
The bust of an alleged dog fighting ring in rural Joelton inside Metro Davidson County underscored the fact that animal fighting exists a great deal closer that we might realize.
Universally, law enforcement officials at every level agree animal fighting while inherently cruel is also a social ill because of the crowd it attracts. Gambling, drug trade, illegal weapons possession and other crimes typically follow any kind of animal fighting.
What’s more, this kind of crime has become well organized and is no longer the province of backwoods fight pits or inner city betting rings. Our reporting on dog fighting from the Joelton case showed national experts identifying suburban areas and those closer to urban centers as the new ground for growing animal fighting pit operations.
Cockfighting is not a throw back to a bygone day but something unfortunately alive and well in this state. Legislation before the General Assembly would elevate cockfighting to a felony, hopefully deterring its proliferation in our state any more. Lawmakers should support the measure and see it passed. In fact, the Legislature could stand to revisit most of the state’s laws on the issue of animal cruelty and potential remedies. Clearly, there are still loopholes that need to be plugged in the present system.
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Are the other animal fights felonys? If not do them all not piecemeal like they usually do.Before you know it we will have cat fights (the 4 legged kind)
NCP Editors, you have bovine manure for brains. Not only is your accusation that “Many might view cockfighting as a cliché — something backwoods Southerners do to amuse themselves” a display of your individual and collective ignorance and bigotry; not to mention intellectual inferiority, but you insulted your readership. (Granted it is comprised mostly of stale-brained sissy’s) Cockfighting, for your information, is a sport that is global in scope and enjoyed from Bangkok to Seoul to New York City to San Francisco. Just think of that the next time that you are dining at Prince’s Hot Chicken.
Plants your ignorance is just as prominent on this thread as it is on the other one. And why don’t you try using your own words instead of the idiot Valentine from the radio. Your stupidity is GROWING everyday plants!!!!
Yes, dog fighting is a felony in a majority of states. People that harm and fight animal against another for entertainment and profit are mentally disturbed. This type of antisocial behavior is usually associated with spouse abuse, child abuse and can escalate to psychopathic behavior. It is well documented that Jeffrey Dahmer, as with most serial killer, start out abusing animals. These people do not value any life, human or animal. 'Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Andrew Cunanan, David 'Son of Sam' Berkowitz, and Albert 'Boston Strangler' DeSalvo were ALL cruel to animals before they started hurting people.(http://ezinearticles.com/?Animal-Cruelty:--The-Key-to-Serial-Minds&id=35856) So, explain to me what is so entertaining about watching two animals confined in a small area fight until the death just so you can win a few dollars. It's a disturbing sickness!
Well at least he's come to terms with the fact he's a "stale-brained sissy".
good post, akturnbo. couldn't have said it better myself.
Thanks Blanketnazi2.
I had neighbors who used to have cock fights in their back yard. Talk about drawing some scary folks into the neighborhood - drunks, druggies, theives, etc.
People that have never witnessed or been exposed to animal fights don't realize the criminal aspect to it. Therefore, think legislation to stop animal fighting is a joke.
There is a HUGE criminal aspect to it. It is often gang related too.
there is a house that backs up to I-40 if you're coming from Lebanon, right before the Old Hickory exit (Summit Hospital) and there have been roosters in the yard, chained to barrels and such, since I can remember.... forever, it seems. The people living in the area said there are cock fights all the time, and you can tell because the sheets are put up to block the views of the fights. Neighbors told me they saw all sorts of creepy looking individuals (some of ethnic persuasion) attending events in the past. And when I called the Humane Society to ask them about this, they said there was nothing they could do. I had to call the Lebanon Sheriff's office to post a complaint. Were you aware they attach razors to the claws of these beautiful birds during these fights? Sorry, but that's just wrong, and you'd have to be deeply disturbed to get off on that.
I understand that this behaviour is acceptible in the South America, but so is slavery. That doesn't mean said activities should be condoned in the US.
I gree gg, you have to be very disturbed to engage in that kind of activity. I know it's a different kind of fighting, but that's what made the Mike Vick thing so disturbing. It could be anyone.
It is clear that animal abuse does show itself in anti-social behavior, but the scariest thing about this is that we have to rely on our pathetic state legislature to do the right thing. We can only hope that there is not a strong cockfighting lobby or the law will die in committee, much like many other "obvious" common sense laws. Of course they can always point to a new speciality license plate, the right to carry a gun into a bar or public park, or the tenth revision of the DUI law (why can't they get it right)as to their impact to the best interests of our state. Please vote against virtually all of the incumbents and let's start over.
Interesting: Those opposed to animal fighting cite clear, specific objections to the practice; giving many examples of the harm to society and individuals as well as to the animals. I see no such arguments presented by those in favor of fighting. The best they can come up with is "people in other countries do it
We seem to draw that conclusion often with our state legislators.
so true, revo-lu