Once again, Louisiana is alone among all states in the nation and once again it is not a positive category. We are now the only state to allow cockfighting. This week, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill outlawing the “sport,” joining the rest of the nation is banning the barbaric practice.
In a cockfight, roosters battle in a ring surrounded by spectators, many who have waged bets on the outcome. The roosters have razors attached to their legs and often fight to the death.The “sport” was popular throughout Europe hundreds of years ago, but has been banned for over a century. It is still legal in places like the Philippines, Guam, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Outrage over cockfighting in Louisiana has been building for many years. Recently, the U.S. Humane Society conducted a poll in the state and found 82% of the people wanted cockfighting outlawed. This sentiment is shared by many legislators, including Louisiana State Senator Art Lentini (R-Kenner) who has introduced bills to ban cockfighting. Each time, the bill is thwarted by cockfighting supporters in southwest Louisiana. Last year, Lentini’s bill passed the State Senate, but was stopped in a House committee.
In the upcoming session, Lentini plans to introduce another bill to ban cockfighting in the state. Now, Governor Blanco has indicated her support, but the legislation still faces an uphill climb. Legislators like State Senator Donald Cravins, Jr. (D-Opelousas) are vowing to oppose the bill. According to Cravins, “I’m going to protect the tradition of cockfighting. For me, it’s representative democracy. I can’t vote against what a majority of my people want.”
Fair enough Senator Cravins, but the vast majority of the people in the state want it outlawed and if representative democracy is followed in the legislature this spring, the “sport” will finally be outlawed. The influential “Cajun Caucus” should not be able to derail what is popular throughout the rest of Louisiana.
Former Congressman Chris John called cockfighting a “social and cultural event.” It was one of the reasons he lost the 2004 U.S. Senate race. The overwhelming majority of citizens of Louisiana do not consider strapping razors to roosters and having them fight to the death a “cultural event.” The opera, ballet, theater, and symphony are legitimate cultural events, but not cockfighting. Tragically, there are some people in Louisiana that consider cockfighting to be a “cultural event” and want Louisiana to take our lead from the Philippines and other cultural backwaters and not from the rest of the United States.
Hopefully cockfighting will be banned this year, so Louisiana will finally shed another embarrassing designation and join, kicking and screaming, the rest of the nation in the humane treatment of animals.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
the main concern for cockfighting is taxes. you beat a horse all around the racetrack and that is fine? yeah because taxes are getting made on wagers. majority of people who are trying to stop this sport are out of towners. im a native of lafayette and proud of the sport. it kept me away from drugs and crime along with a host of friends.try cleaning up new orleans and stop raising taxes to your satisfaction and let us live.never once in louisiana you heard of someone getting killed at a rooster fight. take that away you will see a major increase in crime.just think about someone walking in your office and take your pen and tell you to get out. its the same situation your freedom and rights as a citizen has been shambled.
Written by dollar bill
on 10/15/2007
I was wondering if the ban has taken effect. I used to live in LA, but have been in Florida the past 20 years.
Written by Roger Durham
on 9/20/2007
Hypocrites!All the politicians in this country trying to make a majority ledger on cockfighting.This political attack comes only close to election time.There is more chickens being fought today than ever before..All you have done is cripple your own economy.Cockfighting has and will continue through invitation only events.So much for making a difference!!This will keep our culture and purest bloodlines fighting for many years to come...Thanks for banning cockfights,you all have really made it easier on us to continue private derbies throughout the united states..keep up the good work as you wear a suit and tie to work thinking you have made a difference....
Written by little red riding hood
on 7/19/2007
I disagree I have many fighting cocks and my brother and dad have been fighting cocks for 9 years. I ask the question where are we gonna be able to fight cocks with out having to always look over our sholder. Face it were gonna fight them anyway.Why not try to atleast try to keep a legal place to fight.I enjoy the sport, and you might to if you happen to experince it. How do you know if you don't like cock fighting if you have never seen one?
Written by Roy Hastings
on 7/4/2007
I disagree I have many fighting cocks and my brother and dad have been fighting cocks for 9 years. I ask the question where are we gonna be able to fight cocks with out having to always look over our sholder. Face it were gonna fight them anyway.Why not try to atleast try to keep a legal place to fight.I enjoy the sport, and you might to if you happen to experince it. How do you know if you don't like cock fighting if you have never seen one?
Written by Roy Hastings
on 7/4/2007
I disagree I have been raised with my gamefowl all my life. Dont like to be pushed around by big money organizations that love to dictate how people should or shouldnt live, if you like to go to the opera or go to any other fancy event or like to eat leaves and broccoli by all means do so, my friend theres alot more issues young can tackle that you can really make a difference just think about I know you can come out with something better, you hsus with your 10 million members why dont you try and feeding the 10 million homeless children peace and god bless...
Written by joe contreras
on 6/9/2007
Written by Brian Michaud
on 4/3/2007
Cockfighting as a whole is done throughout the United States from coast. Legal or illegal it will still go on. It is part of Louisiana culture. I do understand that cockfighting isn't for everyone but neither is fishing, hunting, or rodeos. Will these sports be next? If you don't want to watch, then don't go. Noone puts out fliers, advertizes on TV, or anything like that about any cocking events. Gambling is part of the sport, but a very small part. Man and women devote alot of time and money raising these animals. Most people keep these birds in perfect health and the birds live a better life then most animals. Do you think people that have devoted all their lives to the sport will just say ok, I cann't raise my birds anymore and stop. Our local and federal goverments have alot more things to do then stop people who get together to fight a few roosters. What about the crack house they passed up to raid the rooster pit. Stop there and put someone that will hurt our children in jail. This is a past time, a hobby for most. I myself spend hours in the chicken yard sitting down and just watch the birds. What they do is natural, they will do this if someone is watching or not. It is as much of a sport as horse racing. Everytime a horse breaks out of the gates his life is in danger. But that is a chance the owner and trainer takes. And what happens if it breaks a leg? 90 percent of them are put down. I feel it should be put to a vote by the parish just like the slot machines were put to a vote. If the parish doesn't want it then vote it out. But, if a parish wants the sport then they should be allowed to have it. Why should the goverment decide on an issue like this without getting input from the people of the start or parish. Yes we have elected officals, and we put them in office to help us better our region. But will this truely better your smaller towns and cities where cockfighting takes place? No, I don't think so. You will have businesses closing their doors, people out of work. The majority of cockers are famliy men that work hard for a living. They have been doing this all their lives. Outlawing this sport will turn law biding men and women into crimials, this isn't fare. Again our tax money can be spent doing better things for the people of Louisiana then stopping people who only want to do something they have done all their lives and not bother anyone is the process.
Written by Naturalheel
on 3/17/2007
I come from a long line of Cajuns from Lafourche Parish. I grew up on a working sugar cane plantation. I am very proud of my Cajun heritage, but I am absolutely embarrassed that some Cajuns, especially those elected as a voice of the people, feel that this horrific and barbaric practice is part of the Cajun culture! It is not cultural and I will never admit to such an atrocity as being a part of my heritage. It needs to be outlawed and NOW!!!
Written by Maureen Vincent
on 3/13/2007
You're 100% right, Jeff ~ the "sport" of cockfighting is so backward, medieval, and especially barbaric enough that it should make the rest of the nation wonder how we still want to cling to such a tradition. And the sooner it's killed the better. You can bet I'll be talking to everyone I know and telling them to e-mail their Congressman(or woman)about this and telling them to vote it down! ~Dionne
Once again, 
To
Buzz Right Back on this article