AR-News: LA Ag Committee Votes Down Cockfight Ban

[Political Animal]

The next step is for animal advocates to show that
there is a political cost that comes with supporting
cockfighting.  Major plans are in the works, so stay
tuned!
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House committee kills bill to ban cockfighting 

By MELINDA DESLATTE 
The Associated Press 
5/5/2004, 7:34 p.m. CT 

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana should remain one of
only two states in the country that allows
cockfighting, a House committee decided Wednesday,
killing a bill that would ban the practice.

Lawmakers on the House Agriculture Committee, in a 9-5
vote, sided with the owners of the birds and
supporters of the cockfights, who said the activity —
legal only in Louisiana and New Mexico — is a sport
enjoyed as part of a rural Cajun heritage and a
generator of economic development in the areas where
it's practiced.

"This is a rural sport with widespread support and
deep roots in the communities," said Emmanuel Massa,
president of the Louisiana Gamefowl Breeders
Association.

Rep. Karen Carter, however, said the birds were pumped
full of stimulants and put in a pit with knives
strapped to their legs "to hack one another to death"
for amusement and gambling.

"I believe it's cruel, I believe it's barbaric, and I
believe we should follow the lead of 48 other states,"
said Carter, D-New Orleans, who proposed the ban
defeated Wednesday night.

Jay Sabatucci, with the Humane Society of the United
States, said neighboring states like Alabama,
Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas all banned
cockfighting more than 100 years ago. He pointed to a
humane society poll that showed 82 percent of 503
Louisiana respondents favored the ban — 71 percent
"strongly."

Supporters and opponents packed one of the largest
legislative committee rooms, lining the walls to
listen to the hour-long debate. Lawmakers who weren't
even on the committee poked their heads into the room
to watch the vote.

Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom said keeping
cockfighting legal would maintain some control over
the industry and stop the spread of deadly bird
diseases.

Small business owners from Lafayette, Sunset and
Sulphur told lawmakers the gamefowl breeders brought
them important business that kept them afloat. A ban,
they said, could harm their stores and restaurants.

The committee members themselves debated the measure
very little, listening instead to the witnesses before
them and then taking an expected vote to defer the
bill, trapping it in the committee.

Voting in favor of Carter's bill were: Reps. Don
Cazayoux, D-New Roads; Hollis Downs, R-Ruston; Brett
Geymann, R-Lake Charles; Dan Morrish, D-Jennings; and
Mike Strain, R-Covington.

Voting against Carter's bill were: Reps. Beverly
Bruce, D-Mansfield; Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro; Mickey
Frith, D-Abbeville; Mickey Guillory, D-Eunice; Herman
Ray Hill, D-Dry Creek; Lelon Kenney, D-Columbia; Eric
LaFleur, D-Ville Platte; Jack Smith, D-Stephensville;
and Karen St. Germain, D-Plaquemines.



	
		
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