Is cockfighting history in the U.S.?

Louisiana is on the verge of enacting legislation that all but kills one of the state's pastimes -- cockfighting. After Oklahoma banned the practice in 2002 and New Mexico earlier this year, Louisiana became the only place in the country where you can strap razors on a couple of roosters and watch them kill each other. Arkansas was actually an enabler until recently when the practice of raising birds here for fighting was outlawed. Many supporters of the practice say that it's a part of the state's identity and that outlawing it is just another intrusive, controlling step by big brother. In the end, it looks as though the legislation will put an end to the sport -- or will it?

La. SB221 does go a long way of ending this practice, but in reality it only bans gambling at cockfights. In other words, when the law comes sniffing around, you only need to put away the money, not the roosters. This probably will put an end to organized cockfighting, which does exist. Until recently, the Ark-La-Tex Game Club operated just 50 yards from the Arkansas line on Hwy. 71. It's in injunctive limbo while a parish ordinance prohibiting the practice is being litigated. I've witnessed many a full parking lot there on Saturdays. Competing legislation to SB221 is also pending, and the effective date of any gambling ban is uncertain at this point. Cockfighting sympathizers are seeking to make it August, 2008, which will give the legislature one more session to take action on the practice. Here's a good editorial from the New Orleans Times-Picayune on the subject.

If you think it's not a heated topic down there, take a look at this letter to the editor in the Lafayette Daily Advertiser:

I do not attend cockfights, but I have a son who does and am happy to say he does not do drugs and doesn't even drink. There is a lot more bad stuff out there that's harming our children, and until attention is called to these real problems, God help us.

Juanita Savoy
St. Martinville

The town of Sunset, Louisiana is known as the cockfighting hub of St. Landry Parish. The Daily Advertiser looks at how that town will be affected by any ban. The site is also taking a poll on whether the local economy will be adversely impacted by any ban on cockfighting. 52% say yes so far.