The House Judiciary Committee took a solid Senate bill against hog-dog fighting and improved it with stronger penalties against cockfighting. The law on both blood sports should be strengthened this year.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Berkeley's Larry Grooms, would close loopholes in the existing law against hog-dog fighting. Additionally, it further defines hog-dog fighting to eliminate any confusions with legitimate field trials for dogs trained to hunt feral swine.

The House Judiciary Committee added provisions to strengthen the state law against cockfighting. Presently, the penalties are among the weakest in the nation. The House proposal makes provision for property forfeiture for both activities.

The House bill also would increase monetary penalties and jail time for cockfighting. The maximum penalty for a first offense would increase from $100 and 30 days in jail to $1,000 and a year in jail. A third offense would be a felony with a $5,000 fine and up to five years in jail.

Cockfighting has long had its adherents in South Carolina, and hog-dog fighting has become increasingly evident in the state as it has faced harsher penalties elsewhere in the South.

It's worth noting that Louisiana, long a national center for cockfighting, saw a state Senate committee unanimously endorse a ban on the sport this week. The bill's sponsor called it a "barbaric embarrassment" to the state.

Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, certainly spoke for most South Carolinians when he stated similar sentiments, in comments quoted by the AP: "I'm repulsed by people who would support these blood sports. I have no patience, sympathy or understanding of people who would pay to watch dogs or hogs tear each other apart."

The House should pass the committee bill next week and the Senate should concur in what now is a comprehensive and long-needed measure to combat both blood sports. The Legislature shouldn't let another year pass before getting tough on both cockfighting and hog-dogging.