I really don't see the reason for the bill since most states outlaw those practices anyway....pretty much redundant at this point....the government should be focused on more important issues....like maybe the soldiers that are dying overseas?

I have grown up in Louisiana my entire life. Louisiana is also one of the only two states in the US that still allow cockfighting. I grew up in an area with a cockfighting ring right down the road. It is part of the 'culture' in this area. I also have seen a local faculity where they process chickens for food (one of my buddies worked there for sometime).

Just for those who do not know the 'mechanics' behind cockfighting and 'farmed' chickens.....let me give you the basics.

People that fight roosters in this area generally keep chickens for eggs/meat in a 'farm-ish' setting. Because cockfighting is generally related to gambling money, the keepers take very good care of the animals. The roosters get the best feed and care out of all the chickens in the yard. Since roosters will instinctually fight when placed with another rooster, no training is required (unlike most dog fights); however, I have seen roosters exercised and 'practice' fight (they put pads over the spurs so the animals are not injured). The fight rolls around. The roosters are fitted with 'artifical' spurs which are similar to little metal daggers. These are used because if they weren't, the roosters would fight for a very long time and end up just getting severly injured and suffer. With the metal spurs, the fights are not drawn out and the loosing rooster dies quickly.

In a chicken 'factory', the chickens are placed in small cages from the time they are young and fed steriod rich diets to increase their size rapidly. These cages are so small that the chicken may actually 'grow into' part of the cage by the time the 'harvest' comes around. When the caged chickens are harvested, they are placed upside down (their legs are latched into these clips) on a 'conveyor' (the chickens are so large that they really can't put up much of a fight). The conveyor carries the chickens across an electrified vat of water that kills the chickens. Then the chicken is processed to be packaged as food.

With that in mind, how is cockfighting any less humane than the processes used to raise and kill chickens for food? Besides the fighting aspects, the majority of the fighting roosters that I have seen are treated like kings.

Although I am not a supporter of fighting animals......If I was a chicken, I would sign up the cockfighting life over being 'farmed' any day of the week.

It is odd to me how some people will label one thing as 'wrong', but seem to lack concern over other things that are so similar. Chickens are killed in both processes....but the government has issues with one, not the other.....why? because they can't get their cut of the illegal gambling revenue from cockfighting but they can get policical support and taxes from chicken farmers? or is it just their general concern for the welfare of the animals?

I just can't bring myself to deny people their right to do something simply because I think it is wrong...especially when I support something so similar by buying chicken to eat.

....just another ramble. I seem to be in the mood for these today.

oh ya....and that cockfighting ring that was right down the road. Some animal rights activists burned the building down...... about 100 chickens were still inside......go figure.