Rachal
01-27-2005, 01:11 AM
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.
While I see the concern for a $100 million dollar business, it amazes me what they come up with when they go back into session. I guess I assumed they would be seeking to improve Medicaid, schools, funding programs for children....you know improving the lives of the citizens. It's like a few years ago when a woman had just gotten elected and the first bill she introduced was one to do some "housekeeping" on the voter registration list for those who were deceased. I mean....again.....I can see why, but is this what we elected them for? And isn't a department supposed to already manage that?
I would hate to think I retired from the House or the Senate and all they could say about me was....."Well she cleared up the voting list and put gloves on roosters!"
Maybe it's just me! http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/smile.gif
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.
While I see the concern for a $100 million dollar business, it amazes me what they come up with when they go back into session. I guess I assumed they would be seeking to improve Medicaid, schools, funding programs for children....you know improving the lives of the citizens. It's like a few years ago when a woman had just gotten elected and the first bill she introduced was one to do some "housekeeping" on the voter registration list for those who were deceased. I mean....again.....I can see why, but is this what we elected them for? And isn't a department supposed to already manage that?
I would hate to think I retired from the House or the Senate and all they could say about me was....."Well she cleared up the voting list and put gloves on roosters!"
Maybe it's just me! http://www.geekfest.com/ubb/smile.gif