Oklahoma Senator Hopes To Revive Cockfighting By Putting Boxing Gloves On Roosters...

[taoist]

Lawmaker wants tiny boxing gloves on roosters
Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Posted: 9:35 PM EST (0235 GMT)


OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) -- An Oklahoma senator hopes to revive cockfighting in the state by putting tiny boxing gloves on the roosters instead of razors.

The Oklahoma legislature outlawed the blood sport in 2002 because of its cruelty to the roosters, which are slashed and pecked to death while human spectators bet on the outcome.

But State Sen. Frank Shurden, a Democrat from Henryetta and a long-time defender of cockfighting, said the ban had wiped out a $100-million business.

To try to revive it, he has proposed that roosters wear little boxing gloves attached to their spurs, as well as lightweight, chicken-sized vests configured with electronic sensors to record hits and help keep score.

"It's like the fencing that you see on the Olympics, you know, where they have little balls on the ends of the swords and the fencers wear vests," said Shurden. "That's the same application that would be applied to the roosters."

Janet Halliburton, president of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting, which led the drive for the 2002 law, said Shurden is really seeking to loosen the ban.

"What this is going to do is make a platform for him to continually try to amend the existing ban," Halliburton told The Oklahoman newspaper.

The State Senate will consider Shurden's proposal next month.

:idea: :mj03: :box2: :wtf:

 

[Bob Stoops]

As an Oklahoman, I can respond.

First, this is very primitive and ridiculous. But, It is a decent size industry in Southeast Oklahoma. They love to argue that the birds a raised as fighting cocks and would be worthless if used any other way. Even though the sport has been banned most of the Mayberry Sherriff's look the other way on the deal.

It is clearly a black eye on the state, but it is a part of the communities in some of these areas. You obviously bet at these events. Suprisingly, a lot of the crowds are made up of migrant workers and such from Mexico.

 

[taoist]

I agree, Bob. This stuff still goes on here in TN and Kentucky also. Reprehensible if you ask me, but hell, I've got a distant cousin that still raises "fighting roosters" and I'm pretty sure that he doesn't just raise them for show....


Don't get me wrong, I wasn't taking a shot at the State of Oklahoma.... Just thought it was an interesting article and yet another example of a retarded legislator proposing retarded legislation....

 

[Bob Stoops]

In 2202, when the cockfighting Initiative was on the ballot. It lost about 57%-43%. What was amazing is that it lost 90%-10% in the big cities and won 75%-25% in the rural towns.

On top of that, a lot of people in those towns who don't usually vote cast their ballots in the gubenatorial election and elected a democratic governor over Ex-NFL WR Steve Largent. Largent won 58%-42% in the big cities and lost 70%-30% in the areas where cockfighting was prevalent, in precincts that had their biggest turn out in history.

 

[Bob Stoops]

In defense of my fellow Oklahomans, here are the names of the people arrested this year in Oklahoma for Cockfighting:

Hung Van Tu, Sameu Phommanvong, Lor Xeng, Chantho Samountry, Khamsourivong Thongdam, Likorn Bounbongxay, Noi Xayavongsa, Mary Esther Zarate, Juan Ausencio Zarate, and Fernando Zarate.

This cockfighting may be taking place in Oklahoma, but the majority of people involved are not Oklahomans.

 

[taoist]

...yeah, I would wager that out of that list only Mary Ester was born and raised in Oklahoma.


Damn, I didn't realize that Ok had such a large Asian population!?!?!!?? :scared (Obviously, no offense intended toward the Asian members of our wonderful forum.... )