Louisiana to ban cockfighting in '08

[John]

The only state to still allow it, after New Mexico passed a law against it earlier this year, Louisiana will ban cockfighting beginning in August 2008. So enjoy it while you can.

From the good folks at the Times-Picayune: http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/06/lawmakers_vote_to_ban_cockfigh.html

 

[Diabeetus]

Jeebus.

 

[slappy4428]

So much for J_D's Saturday night entertainment...

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

I can always watch "The Little Jerry" episode of "Seinfeld."

 

[Songbird]

A Yittle Yerry Seinfeld.

 

[Football_Bat]

So La. is banning cockfighting.

When are they going to ban fighting between male chickens? ;D

 

[mike311gd]

A Yittle Yerry Seinfeld.

 

[mediaguy]

Ah, progressive Louisiana. I don't actually care even enough to click on the link, but what are the intricate logistics that require 14 months to implement the removal of a soon-to-be illegal activity? Are there scheduled events already booked? Is it just grandhenning in chicks already hatched with the promise of a career in fighting?

Has Michael Vick lost his last reason to be excited about playing the Saints on the road next season?

 

[mike311gd]

That's a cheap shot on Vick. We all know he only likes to watch dogs mutilate one another. I mean, he's not a savage.

 

[tyler durden 71351]

The rhetoric around this whole issue has been wonderful. If you listened to some of the debate in the Legislature, you would have thought that cockfighting was an important part of the fabric of Louisiana and a huge financial benefit for the state. I've spent most of my life in Louisiana and I've never been to a cockfight -- I don't even know where they're held. I'm glad it got banned, because it makes the state look horrible to the outside world, but I'm embarrassed that it took more than 10 years for this to happen and think the Legislature should be worried about more important issues.

 

[IU90]

The rhetoric around this whole issue has been wonderful. If you listened to some of the debate in the Legislature, you would have thought that cockfighting was an important part of the fabric of Louisiana and a huge financial benefit for the state.

I'd love to hear the speeches given by the pro-cockfighting legislators.

 

[Mayfly]

The rhetoric around this whole issue has been wonderful. If you listened to some of the debate in the Legislature, you would have thought that cockfighting was an important part of the fabric of Louisiana and a huge financial benefit for the state.

I'd love to hear the speeches given by the pro-cockfighting legislators.

Mr. Leghorn was the first at the podium.

 

[Point of Order]

Has anyone sought Clinton Portis's thoughts on this?

 

[hondo]

The guy buried the lead. The ban on cockfighting goes into effect in August of 2008. But gambling on cockfighting will be banned effective August of this year.

Who's going to go to a cockfight if you can't bet?

 

[Mayfly]

The guy buried the lead. The ban on cockfighting goes into effect in August of 2008. But gambling on cockfighting will be banned effective August of this year.

Who's going to go to a cockfight if you can't bet?

What stops people from betting on dog fights?

 

[tyler durden 71351]

The rhetoric around this whole issue has been wonderful. If you listened to some of the debate in the Legislature, you would have thought that cockfighting was an important part of the fabric of Louisiana and a huge financial benefit for the state.

I'd love to hear the speeches given by the pro-cockfighting legislators.

The key dispute in the Senate debate was a bid by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, to let individual parishes vote on whether to ban cockfighting.

Gautreaux, who said he has cockfighting pits in every parish in his senatorial district, tried to cast the debate as a bid to impose statewide rules of morality.

"We may have cockfighting pits, but we don't have strip joints," he said of his Acadiana district.

Gautreaux also compared cockfighting to hunting to rebut arguments that cockfighting carries no redeeming values.

"What's the redeeming value of a person taking a shotgun and shooting a bird flying toward them?" he asked. "Because it is a sport."
----

One proponent of the sport from Acadiana, Rep. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, said the bill is not about cockfighting but where the line should be drawn to keep animal rights activists at bay.

Referring to the dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts who crammed the room and dozens more who overflowed into hallways, Hebert said: "The target is on these people's backs today, but who is the next target going to be? . . . This is about where we draw the line on what is humane and inhumane. Do we stop boiling crawfish? I'm sure the crawfish doesn't like it. . . . It is not wrong what we do in the country."
--

Opponents of the bill included Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, who said, "It’s the culture of the people and it brings economic development to the people." Gamecock breeders are conscientious about preventing disease among their fowl, a job made easier by keeping the sport legal and "above board," Odom said.

"In a small community, you have to fight for every dollar you can," said Jerry Domengeaux, owner of a lumber yard and hardware store in Sunset. He said cockfighting has a big, positive impact on towns in his area and on his business when people visit for the fights.

 

[Songbird]

In Roswell I wrote a big story on cockfighting in relation to a high school wrestler who raised cocks. Pissed all of the cockfight people off because they said it brought attention to their cockring that they didn't want.

 

[Mayfly]

In Roswell I wrote a big story on cockfighting in relation to a high school wrestler who raised cocks. Pissed all of the cockfight people off because they said it brought attention to their cockring that they didn't want.

Xan, your subtleness is uncanny.

 

[IU90]

The rhetoric around this whole issue has been wonderful. If you listened to some of the debate in the Legislature, you would have thought that cockfighting was an important part of the fabric of Louisiana and a huge financial benefit for the state.

I'd love to hear the speeches given by the pro-cockfighting legislators.

The key dispute in the Senate debate was a bid by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, to let individual parishes vote on whether to ban cockfighting.

Gautreaux, who said he has cockfighting pits in every parish in his senatorial district, tried to cast the debate as a bid to impose statewide rules of morality.

"We may have cockfighting pits, but we don't have strip joints," he said of his Acadiana district.

Gautreaux also compared cockfighting to hunting to rebut arguments that cockfighting carries no redeeming values.

"What's the redeeming value of a person taking a shotgun and shooting a bird flying toward them?" he asked. "Because it is a sport."
----

One proponent of the sport from Acadiana, Rep. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, said the bill is not about cockfighting but where the line should be drawn to keep animal rights activists at bay.

Referring to the dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts who crammed the room and dozens more who overflowed into hallways, Hebert said: "The target is on these people's backs today, but who is the next target going to be? . . . This is about where we draw the line on what is humane and inhumane. Do we stop boiling crawfish? I'm sure the crawfish doesn't like it. . . . It is not wrong what we do in the country."
--

Opponents of the bill included Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, who said, "It’s the culture of the people and it brings economic development to the people." Gamecock breeders are conscientious about preventing disease among their fowl, a job made easier by keeping the sport legal and "above board," Odom said.

"In a small community, you have to fight for every dollar you can," said Jerry Domengeaux, owner of a lumber yard and hardware store in Sunset. He said cockfighting has a big, positive impact on towns in his area and on his business when people visit for the fights.

Gatreaux, Meax, Domengeaux, Hebert, Jeanerette. Hmm, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that the last cockfighting strongholds are the acadiana cajun country parishes. Gotta love Lousiana, a culture all its own.

 

[tyler durden 71351]

I think you're right...I never heard much about cockfighting in north Louisiana...of course, you go north of Alexandria and you're in south Arkansas/northeast Texas. I seem to recall hearing that Sunset was a big place for cockfighting.