Posted on 04/18/2005 6:45:26 PM PDT by amakua
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - People convicted of cockfighting would be charged with a felony and face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine under a bill that cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Monday. Currently cockfighting is a misdemeanor with a punishment of 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.
South Carolina is one of 17 states where cockfighting is a misdemeanor. It's a felony in 31 states.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, said the legislation could have failed in his committee, but the turnout of cockfighting enthusiasts changed people's minds.
There were people wanting to keep the $100 fine who were "taking the position that it was a cost of doing business," Harrison said.
People raising and fighting birds said they couldn't be sure their birds were "genetically pure" unless they tested them with fighting. Testing means "putting them in a pen and letting them fight to the death, said Trey Walker, spokesman for Attorney General Henry McMaster.
During a subcommittee hearing, one of the advocates of keeping the law unchanged told legislators how he kept and transported fighting birds. McMaster's staff was alarmed enough to tell the subcommittee that the man was incriminating himself with his public admissions, Walker said.
Apart from the fines and prison time, cockfighting, as well as any other form of animal fighting, would become far more expensive pursuit under the bill. The legislation allows law enforcement to seize any property tied to those crimes - from a cage and pickup truck to a barn and a farm.
Animal fighting grew into a big issue during the past year as the state's agriculture commissioner was charged after a federal crackdown on an Aiken cockfighting ring. In January, Charles Sharpe gave up his office and pleaded guilty to lying to a federal officer and taking a $10,000 bribe to protect a cockfighting ring.
The author's headline... Playful, irreverant, yeah just plain brilliant!
LOL!!!
hmmmm.....LOL
The Louisiana State Police received reports of illegal cockfights being held in the area around Crowley, and duly dispatched the infamous detective Boudreaux to investigate.
He reported to his sergeant the next morning.
"Dey is tree main groups in dis cock fightin'" he began.
"Good work. Who are they?" the sergeant asked.
Boudreaux replied confidently, "De Aggies, de Cajuns, and de Mafia."
Puzzled, the sergeant asked, "How did you find that out in one night?"
"Well," he replied, "I went down and done seen dat cock fight. I knowed de Aggies was involved when a duck was entered in de fight."
The sergeant nodded, "I'll buy that. But what about the others?"
Boudreaux intoned knowingly, "Well, I knowed de Cajuns was involved when summbody bet on de duck."
"Ah," sighed the sergeant, "And how did you deduce the Mafia was involved?"
"De duck won."
Yes, I thought it was a story about Bill Clinton's health recovery.
Funny!!!!!
LOL.. How long have you been waiting for an opportunity to use that joke?! Excellent!
I can't do it. I just can't do it...
Sure you can Sarge!
Don't you want to "rise" to the occassion?! LOL
Bill...
Bill stiffening...
Stiffening cockfighting...
Cockfighting...heads...
"Stiffen your resolve!".......and when you're done try the thread about the Romanian woman with a cell phone hidden in an unusual place.......this is shaping up to be a good night!
LOL! Where's Fiona?!
I pictured Clinton addressing a joint session of congress.
classic
I thought Cock Fighting was legal in Louisiana.
I missed it completely until you pointed the obvious out to me. Grasshopper have much to learn.
And you're right - "Can You Hear me Now?"
"Bill stiffening cockfighting penalties heads to House floor"
Can't resist....grrrrr...can't resist...uugghhh...must mock headline....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH
"Bill stiffening cockfighting penalties heads to House floor"
Can't resist....grrrrr...can't resist...uugghhh...must mock headline....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH
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