Texas cockfighting bill seen as an attack on way of life

The hearing room was packed with buzzing, angry ranchers, concerned farm owners and even admitted cockfighters, waiting for their chance to step up to the ring to face the Senate Criminal Justice committee to defend their livelihoods and oppose a bill they believe is an attack on Texas culture. The bill in contention would create penalties for cockfighting -- an action that has been illegal since 1907. Under current law, however, there are no penalties for owning a facility where the fight takes place, possessing birds with the intent to fight, owning equipment or attending a fight. Those pushing the bill want to close the loop holes, so that the law can be enforced. They say an underground network of animal fighters bring out related crimes -- a haven for drug cartels and prostitution. Dozens testifying were outraged, saying these "city folks" making laws have no idea what country life is about. Bobby Jones admitted that he has fought roosters before but seemed to think that the Legislature had bigger problems to worry about and that they were unfairly singling out cockfighters. "Why don't we go down to Sixth Street and close up all the places with prostitutes down there," he asked the lawmakers. Speaking of prostitutes, another witness went slightly off topic when he asked the committee to describe to him what one looks like because he thought he might have "seen some up here last week." "You're talking about at the Captiol?" Whitmire asked. "The Capitol is full of them," the witness answered...more

Seems to me everybody would be better off if the legislators limited their screwin' to prostitutes, and left the bird owners alone.