|
Opponents of the legislation said they didn't believe people engaged in cockfighting should face a felony.
A lobbyist told lawmakers yesterday that cockfighting clubs consider their roosters 'pets.' |
RICHMOND
--A cockfighting group yesterday asked a Senate committee to exempt their members from a bill adding new restrictions and penalties for dogfighting and cockfighting.The Virginia Gamefowl Breeders Association, whose members are called "cockers" in cockfighting circles, wanted the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee to allow private clubs to continue cockfighting. The association represents nine cockfighting clubs, including one called "Jack's Hollow" in Culpeper County.
"Their sport's been here since Colonial times," argued lobbyist Scott Johnson. "When was the last time you, as a committee member, have been asked to do away with something that's been here since colonial times? A vote for this bill in its unamended form would end what these gentlemen have enjoyed for generations."
The bill would make cockfighting a felony, and increases the penalties for dogfighting as well. It comes after last year's high-profile conviction of NFL star Michael Vick for dogfighting.
The bill has had several hearings over the course of the legislative session, but this is the first time supporters of cockfighting have come forward.
Johnson said the association members regard their birds as pets, so much so that while some were in the audience, he claimed it would be too upsetting to them to testify.
"Words cannot express or accurately describe the affection that these families have for their roosters," Johnson said. "It's far too emotional for them to come to this podium and tell you what it's going to mean for them to get rid of their birds."
To demonstrate his point, Johnson gave committee members a picture of association president William-Bernard Britton with one of his roosters on his shoulder.
"I think that look on that bird's face and the look on Billy's face says it all," Johnson said.
Opponents of the amendment expressed surprise that anyone would publicly defend cockfighting.
"I was surprised that there would be a single elected official in this state who would offer an amendment to legalize cockfighting," said John Goodwin of the Humane Society.
He said the fact that people who engage in cockfighting attended the hearing proves that the penalties for illegal cockfighting--a misdemeanor--are too low.
"They don't fear the existing penalties," Goodwin said.
The amendment exempting the cockfighters was proposed by Sen. Philip Puckett, D-Russell, who said making it a felony to engage in cockfighting was going too far.
"I have a lot of these people in the 38th senatorial district and I don't believe these people to be felons," Puckett said.
Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, who voted for both the amendment and the bill, said perhaps the sentiment against cockfighting shows that "things that were commonplace in rural areas people are finding in general very distasteful."
But he said a felony penalty was too much.
"What we find distasteful should not be subject to long terms in prison at the expense of the taxpayers," he said.
Currently cockfighting is illegal in Virginia only if it's accompanied by gambling. The bill would make cockfighting illegal by itself.
Johnson said the members of the association have strict rules at their cockfights, banning gambling, guns, people under age 12, alcohol, profanity and, according to a letter Britton sent to the attorney general's office, illegal immigrants.
But opponents of the amendment scoffed at the idea that cockfighting exists without gambling, along with Johnson's claims that cockfighters in the association treat the birds as pets.
"This is a blood sport," said the bill's sponsor, Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. "The vast majority of the birds involved in this sport die of horrendous wounds."
Others said it wouldn't be constitutional to carve out an exemption for one group.
"There are serious questions about the constitutionality of excluding members of a certain club," said Bob Bushnell, commonwealth's attorney in Henry County. "Next you have the Virginia Crack Dealers' Association."
The committee rejected Puckett's amendment, although two other senators voted for it. The committee then unanimously passed the bill. It must go next to the Senate Finance committee.
Chelyen Davis: 804/782-9362
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com
