Cockfighting KOed in Louisiana

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Knockout punch: Louisiana makes cockfighting illegal.

Roosters everywhere have a lot to crow about, now that Louisiana passed legislation banning cockfighting. The ban passed both chambers of the legislature with a unanimous concurrence in the Senate a 97-1 vote in the House, with just one day left in the legislative session.

Previous attempts to ban the cruel bloodsport were blocked by cockfighting industry lobbyists, and the legislation encountered similar obstacles this year, dodging multiple amendments that sought to weaken the bill.

Says The HSUS' President Wayne Pacelle, "This is tremendous progress. It is the last gasp of the cockfighting industry in Louisiana."

The full ban on cockfighting will take effect in 2008, and it is complimented by the passage of another anti-cockfighting bill aimed at banning gambling at cockfights. The gambling ban will take effect on Aug. 15. While it does not ban cockfighting outright, it will effectively shut down all of Louisiana's cockfighting operations, because gambling is part and parcel of the cockfighting industry.

This one-two punch against Louisiana's cockfighting industry marks a great victory for animals in the rest of the country. For years, breeders of fighting birds in states where cockfighting is illegal have been doing brisk business selling their birds to Louisiana, sales which should now cease. 

The Holdout State No Longer

The Bayou State was the last state to outlaw cockfighting, despite public opposition to the practice. Recent polling showed that 82 percent of Louisiana citizens favor a ban on cockfighting, a figure commensurate with polling data from other states. 

A tiny, vocal faction of cockfighters, many from out of state, had convinced some members of the Louisiana legislature that cockfighting was necessary under the pretenses of tradition and economic gain.

But "tradition" is no excuse for cruelty. And, as Sen. Art Lentini, sponsor of the Senate bill against cockfighting, declared, "The fact that it creates wealth is not a redeeming value. To put razors on animals and make them fight to the death is morally repugnant." Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) wrote of cockfighting, "This practice fuels a negative image of our state and hurts our ability to bring in good jobs and economic development."

Cockfighting Coming to a Close

The Louisiana legislation is just the latest in a recent spate of victories over cockfighting.

On March 12, New Mexico passed a ban on cockfighting.

On May 3, President Bush signed into law a bill making the transportation of fighting birds across state lines or abroad a felony offense. Also in early May, the last two airlines still transporting fighting birds to the Philippines declared they would stop after learning that the shipments violated federal law.

These strong victories may have helped convince the Louisiana legislature to ban cockfighting.

Amazon.com the Next To Fold?

Louisiana's new cockfighting ban, in conjunction with these victories, should have repercussions for the remaining few foes in the battle to stop cockfighting.

Internet retailer Amazon.com, by selling periodicals containing cockfighting advertisements, acts as cockfighting's main agent. Amazon.com is the sole Internet outlet for The Gamecock and The Feathered Warrior. Both magazines remain full of advertisements for fighting birds—although cockfighting is now illegal in all 50 states and federal law carries felony penalties.

"Amazon.com has tried to excuse its hand in promoting animal fighting by arguing that cockfighting remained legal in Louisiana. While this argument was always on shaky ground due to existing federal law, that excuse has now been completely pulled out from under them," said John Goodwin, The HSUS' Deputy Manager of Animal Fighting issues.

If good sense prevails, Amazon.com will take a cue from the forward-thinking legislators in Louisiana and elsewhere, and stop helping cockfighters by selling these magazines.