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Tougher penaltiesPosted Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 8:40 pm
State lawmakers are moving forward on a bill that would increase the penalties for cockfighting. The tougher sanctions are an appropriate acknowledgement by the state that cockfighting is a cruel and inhumane activity. Under the legislation, people convicted of cockfighting would face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine and forfeiture of property used in connection with animal fighting. Currently, cockfighting is merely a misdemeanor. Weak fines have allowed this blood "sport" to survive in our state. People involved in cockfighting can be fined a maximum of $100 and sentenced to only 30 days in jail. The tougher fine being considered by lawmakers is a reasonable punishment to rid this state of this sick and crass activity that often involves illegal betting. The continued existence of cockfighting in the state was underscored by the indictment of Charles Sharpe, the former state agricultural commissioner who recently pleaded guilty to extortion and lying to police. He admitted taking a $10,000 bribe to protect a cockfighting organization from legal trouble. Cockfighting is an ugly reminder of a sordid form of "entertainment" that South Carolina would do well to put behind it. |
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Wednesday, April 27 | |||
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