SC

Senators Seek Stiffer Cockfighting Penalties

BILL WOULD EXPAND FINES, JAIL SENTENCES FOR PERPETRATORS … CREATE NEW PUNISHMENTS FOR EVENT ATTENDEES A pair of S.C. Senators are pushing legislation that would increase fines and punishments for individuals who engage in cockfighting – and create a new charge for individuals who attend cockfights. It’s part of a renewed effort…

BILL WOULD EXPAND FINES, JAIL SENTENCES FOR PERPETRATORS … CREATE NEW PUNISHMENTS FOR EVENT ATTENDEES

A pair of S.C. Senators are pushing legislation that would increase fines and punishments for individuals who engage in cockfighting – and create a new charge for individuals who attend cockfights.

It’s part of a renewed effort to crackdown on this illegal, barbaric practice … because let’s face it: We can’t always rely on roosters to exact their own vengeance (even Foghorn Leghorn).

Anway, the bill – S. 157 – is sponsored by Senators Katrina Shealy and Greg Hembree.  It would make cockfighting a felony on the second offense and allow prison sentences of up to five years for second and subsequent offenses.  It would also impose new mandatory minimum fines for first, second and subsequent offenses.

We have no problem with that part of the legislation …

As we’ve said repeatedly, this website “rejects the inhumane treatment of animals – be it dogfighting, bear-baying or cockfighting.  Such activities are disgusting, and we have zero tolerance for individuals who engage in them.”

But what about the proposed legislation’s attempt to criminalize the behavior of those who are, in its own words, “present at any structure, facility, or location where preparations are being made for the purpose of cockfighting with knowledge that those preparations are being made or with knowledge that cockfighting is taking place or is about to take place?”

Does such language – and the fines and punishments the legislation would assign to such behavior – cast too wide a net?

We think so …

Don’t get us wrong: There ought to be severe punishments imposed on those who participate in cockfights, wager on their outcome or pay to attend them.  This is especially true in South Carolina, which saw its state agriculture commissioner indicted on cockfighting charges in 2004.

But can we really go all “pre-crime” on individuals who happen to be present in the vicinity of such events?  Especially in such broad terms as this bill proposes?

We don’t think so …

Shealy and Hembree’s bill represents a good start on a very worthwhile issue.  In fact we wouldn’t mind it if some of the fines and punishments were made even steeper.  Hopefully future versions of this legislation will do that … while modifying the worrisome “pre-crime” language.

What do you think?  Share your thoughts in our comments section below …

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26 comments

Tazmaniac March 15, 2016 at 4:34 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNTg2Uz7-pM

Cock fighting is inevitable. 3 and half minutes but pretty funny.

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pogo March 15, 2016 at 6:25 pm

I always enjoy our ‘cock fights’, Taz
XOXO

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Flip March 15, 2016 at 4:49 pm

Cock fighting, dog fighting, it’s all animal abuse. Watch a boxing match and call it a day.

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euwe max March 15, 2016 at 5:29 pm

..the cocks come home to roost.

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Lone Ranger March 15, 2016 at 5:34 pm

That’s right—when it came to ripping down the flag of patriots and Southern heritage…Katrina and Hembree said…why NO we just can’t let YOU vote

Now the flaming RINOs want to insult your intelligence with a cock fighting bill but that Tea Train’s rolling to a barbeque and THEY will be the goat !!!

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Flip March 15, 2016 at 5:48 pm

Just glad that flag is down.

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Lone Ranger March 15, 2016 at 5:55 pm

On a warm day Flip’s IQ gets up to 90 and he chases his shadow around
But he STILL thinks President Trump will “give” him Section 8 and that the flag is…”down” !!!

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Flip March 15, 2016 at 5:57 pm

Confederate flag lovers told us after the flag is down the minorities will still be bitching,

Yet the only fools still running their mouths are the ones with their red necks itching.

South Carolina makes the right choice and retires flag of hate,

Now if only racists like Lone Ranger would kindly leave the state!

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Lone Ranger March 15, 2016 at 5:59 pm

Flip said it would be a wonderful day if HONEST and WORKING voters would leave
But then there’d be no one to pay Flip’s Section 8–the homeless freeloader would grieve !!!

Robert E Lee March 15, 2016 at 6:24 pm

How much you wanna bet this Lone Ranger shitstain is getting a check from the government every week? He seems to be very well versed in the various programs and their names.

Lone Ranger March 15, 2016 at 6:27 pm

robert e.–NO relation to Lee–flunked in school and of course then he quit
Now his claim to fame is Section 8 and SNAP and knowing how to say… !!!

Robert E Lee March 16, 2016 at 7:17 am

Wow. You really are versed in all the welfare programs. You know, those poor ass losers who get welfare are overwhelmingly white, southern and from former confederate states. Just like you, cracker.

Lone Ranger March 16, 2016 at 10:58 am

robert e.–NO relation to Lee–was a Dimwit grifter and slacker
His vocabulary is limited to…SNAP–Section 8–and “cracker !!! “

Flip March 15, 2016 at 7:09 pm

Lone Ranger wouldn’t know a real job if it walked up and kicked him in the butt,

But that won’t stop him from staying in his confederate flag loving rut.

Lone Ranger March 15, 2016 at 7:22 pm

flip shot off his lip and missed his eighth grade graduation but his reason was a beauty
The freeloader got held up again down at the Section 8 office and…he had jury duty !!!

Flip March 15, 2016 at 7:36 pm

Lone Ranger’s rhymes are bad but that’s what we’ve come to expect

Of a guy who likes racist flags and has no respect.

Maybe if he had a coherent, logical though once in a blue moon,

Then he wouldn’t have to like his own posts after acting like a baboon.

Lone Ranger March 15, 2016 at 7:39 pm

When the eighth grade dropouts had a reunion Flip was wrong but always in the know
After all–it was he who dropped out of Remedial English writing for “logical thoughts”…”logical though !!! “

Flip March 16, 2016 at 8:13 am

Lone Ranger has all day to come up with his terrible rhymes,

But he stops every now and then to beg for nickels and dimes.

Squishy123 March 15, 2016 at 7:50 pm

Good, now amend it to include dog fighting and make it a felony on the first offense.

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Krazy Kat March 15, 2016 at 8:34 pm

Yet they have no problem with slaughtering 1000s of them a day in the processing plants. That’s fine. Those chickens are tasty.
Fucking hypocrites

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TroubleBaby March 15, 2016 at 9:02 pm

All the problems the state of SC has, yet their priority is chicken fighting bills….

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SOSO March 16, 2016 at 10:44 am

Was just thinking the same thing. Jeez…. y’all get some real work done down there.

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sparklecity March 15, 2016 at 11:32 pm

Obviously FITS ain’t been to Cockfighting Club in San Juan Puerto Rico..(right across from ESJ Towers where we were billeted while on rotation…).

Those dudes have it down to an engineering science. It sure as hell ain’ta bunch of white-trash rednecks riling up some roosters in a barn either. I ain’t talking “two’s and fews” here…., rolls of 50 & 100 dollar bills are openly flashed and not a damn bit of trouble!!!
It’s legit as hell and above board….cocktails & beer served by “ringside girls” even chicken pie (you eat the “losers”!!!)

Went to it a few times when I was on a rotation flying out of Puerto Rico all over South America. One thing fer sure…….that’s the only place where a Gamecock is sure to win!!!…LOL!!!

Of course FITS wouldn’t know anything about that kind of world…………..

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Todd March 16, 2016 at 12:23 am

In solidarity with the suffering of these noble animals, I vote that USC change their mascot to the “grumpy penises.” Most of the T-shirts your daughters wear will still apply.

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Manray9 March 16, 2016 at 10:56 am

I’m glad to see our illustrious legislators found the time in their busy schedules to tackle the moral and social plague of cockfighting. Now that it’s being taken care of — maybe there’ll be time for infrastructure repairs, ethics legislation, education reform and economic development — all of which took a back-seat to cockfighting.

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Mom March 16, 2016 at 12:53 pm

That should really help with the current prison overcrowding problem.

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