Dogs, hogs or chickens -- pitting animals
against each other in a fight to the death should be a felony with
serious penalties. A House bill introduced Tuesday would make
cockfighting in this state as serious a crime as dogfighting.
For more than a century, cockfighting has been a misdemeanor,
carrying a $100 fine or up to 30 days in jail. And with those lax
penalties and uneven enforcement, authorities believe the so-called
"sport" may be far more widespread in South Carolina than many suspect.
Add to that the embarrassment of having the state's agriculture
commissioner snagged in a federal dragnet for collaborating in an Aiken
cockfighting ring, and it's clear the state has a problem. Last week,
Charles Sharpe relinquished his office and pleaded guilty to taking a
$10,000 bribe to protect the ring and lying to a federal officer.
Under the proposed bill, cockfighting would become a felony,
punishable by a $5,000 fine or five years in prison. Cockfighting is
banned in all but two states, Louisiana and New Mexico. It is a felony
in 31 states and a misdemeanor in 17, including South Carolina.
Agriculture Committee Chairman Billy Witherspoon, R-Conway, supports
the fines but said he doesn't think watching or participating in a
cockfight should be a felony offense.
"It seems a little harsh to me," Witherspoon said. "There's a big
difference between fighting dogs and fighting chickens."
But is there? Of course, the animals are different and more blood may
be spilled at a dogfight. But in each case, the basic attraction is
carnage, animals killing each other, and the allure of gambling. The big
money changing hands at cockfights is another reason this should be
regarded as a serious crime.
Our state laws need to reflect that cockfighting is cruel to the
creatures abused for entertainment, demeaning to all who participate and
a dangerous criminal activity.
