WASHINGTON -- Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI)
today announced that he is a co-sponsor of the Cockfighting Bill
(HR 1275), which would close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act
that allows some interstate shipment of birds for fighting and undermines
enforcement of cockfight bans.
Responding to public outrage over animal fighting,
Congress prohibited interstate commerce in dogs and other animals
for fighting purposes in the 1976 amendments to the Animal Welfare
Act. But a loophole for cockfighting was accepted in conference,
without any debate or scrutiny.
The Animal Welfare Act makes it unlawful for any person
to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in any animal fighting
venture to which any animals was moved in interstate or foreign
commerce, the loophole allows the interstate shipment of fighting
birds to states where cockfighting is legal.
In states where cockfighting is still legal O Oklahoma,
Louisiana and New Mexico O HR 1275 would still allow people to fight
birds, but only if the birds were raised in their own states.
"Cockfighting is a cruel and inhumane practice and
I am proud to sponsor legislation to further curtail this activity,"
said Kennedy. "Cockfighters pump the birds full of stimulants, affix
razor-sharp knives and ice pick-like gaffs to their legs, and force
them to fight to injury or death for the mere amusement of spectators.
The current situation in federal law undermines the ability of state
and local law officers to enforce the state bans in 47 states."
Kennedy noted that cockfighters elude prosecution
in states where the practice is illegal by claiming that they are
raising fighting birds for shipment to states where it is still
lawful.
"We need federal legislation to close this loophole
in the law," said Kennedy. "State laws are insufficient to deal
with this national industry."
The legislation is strongly supported by the Humane
Society of the United States and its 7 million members and constituents
nationwide, as well as by other animal protection organizations,
the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture and law enforcement organizations.
Kennedy is one of 80 co-sponsors of the bill, which
was introduced by Congressmen Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Joe Scarborough
(R-FL).
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