AR-News: Tulsa World- Keep Cockfighting Penalties Stiff

[Political Animal]

                   Copyright 2004 The Tulsa World
                             Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

                    May 8, 2004 Saturday Final Home
Edition

SECTION: OPINION; Editorials; Pg. A20

LENGTH: 407 words

HEADLINE: Uphold the vote

BYLINE: World's Editorial Writers

BODY:

   Cockfighters still hanging on 

	It will come as no surprise to most readers
that Oklahoma's cockfighting contingent is not giving
up on its beloved sport. In recent days, supporters of
the now-illegal activity have been ratcheting up
efforts to water down the ban approved by voters two
years ago.

   Their main focus reportedly is to reduce felony
provisions to misdemeanors. In other words, they want
violations to be subject to a small fine so they can
continue to practice the activity with little or no
fear of consequences. If cockfighting violations are
reduced to misdemeanors, it's likely law enforcement
won't even bother to go after cockfighting operations.

   It is beyond belief so much time and effort has to
be devoted to this issue four years after citizens
launched their effort to ban the bloodsport. Let's
hope lawmakers in the end will have the backbone to
stand up to those factions that would overturn a vote
of the people to serve their own selfish interests.

   There is every reason to uphold the 2002 vote to
ban cockfighting and no compelling reason to tinker
with it. To summarize:

   <UL> Clearly some cockfighters are intent on
violating the law. Otherwise why would they be so
interested in reducing the penalties to misdemeanors?
So obviously the threat of a serious penalty is needed
to dissuade these practitioners. (Remember, there is
one simple way to avoid a felony charge: Don 't
violate the law.)

   Prosecutors and judges have the same discretion in
applying this law as they do with any other. Plenty of
other felony-level crimes do not result in prison
terms. Just look at the dogfighting law, which is
nearly identical to the cockfighting ban: Research
shows only three Oklahoma inmates are serving time for
dogfighting violations.

   Oklahomans have spoken -- by a substantial majority
of 56 percent. It is beside the point that most of
that majority resides in the big cities. Lawmakers
risk incurring the wrath of an already cranky
electorate if they tamper with their decision.

   </UL> Why not give the law and law enforcement the
chance to do what they're supposed to do? If a few
years down the road some modifications seem necessary,
then that would be the time to take up the matter.

   Lawmakers had four decades to take action on the
cockfighting problem and chose not to. Then the people
did it on their own. The Legislature has no business
second-guessing them. Let the vote stand.

LOAD-DATE: May 9, 2004



	
		
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