AnimalVoicesNews Source: AP Link: http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/63141.html
New Mexico cockfighters brace for ban By TIM KORTE | Associated Press June 14, 2007 ALBUQUERQUE Some New Mexico cockfighters might take their roosters south of the border. Others are likely to go underground. When a new law takes effect Friday, it no longer will be legal to fight roosters in New Mexico. That leaves Louisiana as the only state where cockfighting is legal though a ban is under consideration there. ³People in this state have been fighting roosters for hundreds of years. Then all of a sudden to outlaw it, that¹s just not right,² Ronald Barron, president of the New Mexico Game Fowl Association, said Thursday. Cockfighters plan to file a lawsuit challenging the ban, possibly as early as next week. An Idaho lawyer who is representing the New Mexico cockfighters didn¹t immediately return telephone messages seeking details. Supporters of the legislation against cockfighting included animal-rights activists and New Mexico¹s three Roman Catholic bishops. They said cockfighting is cruel to the animals and should have been outlawed long ago. Several New Mexico counties already had banned the bloodsport before the statewide law was passed by the Legislature in March. During a cockfight, two roosters fitted with blades or gaffs on their legs are placed into a pit and fight until one is dead or badly wounded. Although gambling on the fights is illegal, spectators openly wager on the outcome. Attorney General Gary King vowed to pursue anyone who violates the ban, as well as a previously enacted dog fighting ban. He will oversee an animal cruelty task force that includes elected officials, law enforcement officials and animal-rights leaders. ³We are putting people on notice,² King warned. ³If you violate animal protection laws, you will be prosecuted.² The law makes participating in a cockfight a misdemeanor for the first two offenses and a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison for subsequent offenses. Barron said many cockfighters are law-abiding citizens. He predicted they¹ll stop attending the fights, but he also believes the law will simply force others underground. ³Yep, it¹s going to happen, no doubt in my mind,² he said. ³It happens all throughout the United States. Why should it be any different in New Mexico?² He also criticized King¹s task force as a waste of taxpayer money and complained that most of its members are from Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Cockfighters have long portrayed the matter as an urban-versus-rural issue. ³Their dadgum priorities are in the wrong place,² Barron said. ³What are you supposed to protect? People or chickens? The people of New Mexico could care less about cockfighting. They care more about crime and protecting their families.² Barron also said the law unfairly hurts people who raise roosters to make a living off cockfighting, as well as those employed at feed stores and game pits. Tommy Booth, who has operated a popular cockfighting pit north of Hobbs since 1995, said the site has shut down and won¹t stage fights anymore. He predicted much of his business will shift to Texas border communities, such as Ojinaga, Mexico. But he also said cockfighters are planning to open a pit in Palomas, Mexico, which is across the border from Columbus, N.M. ³Mexico is really opening the door for us,² Booth said. Comments are not allowed on this story at this time. Please check the open for comments page for details. I want to read comments posted on this story (4 comments; last comment posted June 14, 2007 04:10 pm) ©2007, Santa Fe New Mexican, all rights reserved. Opinions expressed by readers do not necessarily reflect the views of the management and staff of the Santa Fe New Mexican. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> Judy Reed AnimalVoices Speaking For Animals & Their Environment This is distibuted for nonprofit research and educational purposes only. [Ref.http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html] You are invited to read past articles and alerts, subscribe, or unsubscribe at: AnimalVoicesNews: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/AnimalVoicesNews AnimalVoicesAlerts:http://groups-beta.google.com/group/AnimalVoicesAlerts BushWatchersNews: http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=bushwatchernews&start=0&scoring=d To unsubscribe, send email to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Others -- just ask not to be copied.
