Tennessee Senate and House Judiciary Committees Vote to Make Cockfighting a Felony

April 9, 2008

The HSUS Urges House and Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committees to Pass S.B. 1734 and H.B. 2143

The Humane Society of the United States applauds the Tennessee Senate and House Judiciary Committees for passing bills that will make cockfighting a felony in the Volunteer State. The House Judiciary Committee passed H.B. 2143, sponsored by Rep. Janis Sontany, D-Nashville, by a voice vote earlier today. Its companion bill, S.B. 1734, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, was unanimously passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

"Children are often present at these illegal events and we need to give law enforcement the necessary tools to eradicate animal fighting from our communities so that we can prevent the next generation from getting involved in this criminal activity," said Leighann McCollum, Tennessee state director for The HSUS.

Under present law, animal fighting with any bull, bear or dog is a class E felony, but a loophole in Tennessee law lowers the penalty for cockfighting to a Class A misdemeanor. S.B. 1734 and H.B. 2143 close that loophole by making all forms of animal fighting a Class E felony, punishable by one to six years in prison and a maximum fine of $3,000. Additionally, the bills raise the penalty for being a spectator at an animal fight to a Class A misdemeanor.

Rep. Sontany and Sen. Ketron are highly-regarded champions for animal protection legislation.

Proponents of this legislation point out that Tennessee has become a refuge for cockfighters wishing to avoid prosecution in states where the crime is punished as a felony. Neighboring states Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina and Virginia have made cockfighting a felony. Passage of S.B. 1734 and H.B. 2143 could actually lower the fiscal impact of enforcing animal fighting laws by making Tennessee an unappealing location for hosting cockfights.

About Cockfighting:

• Tens of thousands of people are involved in cockfighting nationwide.
• A 2005 raid on a cockfighting pit in Cocke County led to the exposure of widespread public corruption among local law enforcement, illegal gambling, men with semi-automatic weapons guarding the gate receipts, and even the presence of young children at the cockfights.
• Common cockfighting practices include breeding birds for viciousness, drugging them to heighten aggression and fitting their legs with razor-sharp knives or gaffs resembling ice picks.
• Law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between cockfighting and the distribution of illegal drugs.
• Breeding and transporting fighting roosters for cockfighting is implicated in the spread of diseases such as Exotic Newcastle Disease, which can decimate the poultry industry.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.