Christian Champions the Chickens

Legislator from Center files bill to bust cockfighting rings

By Richard Whittaker, 1:30PM, Tue. Feb. 17, 2009

Nope. We're not doing any puns. Tempting as it may seem.

Good news for roosters: This morning Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, filed House Bill 1320 to place possession of cock-fighting equipment on a par with owning other criminal paraphernalia.

Cockfighting is already illegal under Texas' animal cruelty laws, but as a big cockfighting ring bust in Dallas last year proved, it's still legal to possess the equipment. Christian's proposal would amend the current dog-fighting laws, which are part of the property seizure statutes that also cover equipment relating to drugs, child pornography, illegal firearms and unlicensed gambling.

The bill text is actually quite educational in a sickening way (Newsdesk admits, it never knew the difference between a gaff and a slasher before. May have been happier before we did.)

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