AR-News: (OK - US) Message for OK voters from OK Coalition Against Cockfighting

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A Message for Oklahoma Voters From Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting

The 2004 Legislative Session begins Monday, February 2 and your assistance is needed!  As you recall, Senator Frank Shurden and other cockfighting boosters pushed a raft of bills in 2003 to overturn State Question 687.  We blocked them all - thanks to your phone calls and letters to your legislators.  Shurden's bills are still very much alive and can be voted upon at any time during the 2004 legislative session.  It is crucial that you CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AGAIN IMMEDIATELY and urge them to oppose any bill that would weaken or repeal SQ687!

You can reach your senator by calling (405) 524-0126.  Your letters can be addressed to your senator at State Capitol Building, 2300 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  73105.  If you are unsure who your legislators are, you can contact your county election board for that information.
 
When speaking with your legislators it is important to emphasize the following points:
 
1.  Legislators should respect the will of the people.
 
2.  SQ 687 has wide support.  It passed with a 56.2 majority vote (this is considered a technical landslide!)  The cruel and barbaric sport of cockfighting has no place in a civilized society and the people of Oklahoma have spoken clearly on this issue.
 
3.  The felony penalties of the cockfighting law are critical to deterring this activity in our state and already provide for a RANGE of penalties from one to ten years in prison and $2,000 to $25,000 in fines.  These penalties are IDENTICAL to penalties in the anti-dogfighting statute passed by the Leiglsature, itself!  Our prisons are not overcrowded with Dogfighters and they will not be overcrowded with cockfighters.  Strong penalties provide a deterrent to breaking the law, and of course penalties can be avoided altogehter by simply obeying the law!
 
4.  Voters knew what they were doing when they passed this law and understood the penalty provisions after nearly three years of public debate.  Sending this measure back to the people to reduce penalties shows a total disregard for the result of an election.
 
5.  We are proud to live in Oklahoma and we want our public policies to embody humane sensibilities.  The cockfighters do not represent mainstream Oklahoma and we need to put a stop to their bullying and cruelty.
 
If you have questions or would like to report the outcome of your contact with your senator, please email Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting  at ocac at bancockfighting.org or call (405)478-5128.
 
Thanks for your faithful support!