In 2008, after years holding out on the issue, Louisiana became the final state to enact a ban on cockfighting, putting an end to a bloodsport which pits animals against one another for entertainment. But when a lawmaker in the state proposed new legislation to close a loophole in the original ban, it was met with some unexpected resistance from the proponent of a practice few had known was taking place.
Concerned that language in the cockfighting ban, specifying certain breeds of chickens, made the law too difficult to enforce, state Senator J.P. Morrell put forth a bill to change the definition of "chicken" to include all types of fowl forced to fight, while also banning cockfighting paraphernalia and increasing penalties for first offenders.
As the routine proposal was raised at a committee hearing this week, his colleague Sen. Elbert Guillory voiced opposition. Guillory, who had fought to keep cockfighting legal years earlier, said that the bill could impact a "legal" form of bird fights, called "chicken boxing."
The committee was confused by this, reports the Washington Post.
"I have no knowledge whatsoever on chicken boxing so I cannot speak to that," said Morrell. "I have never heard of that. It sounds like something to circumvent cockfighting."
And he was right. Guillory described "chicken boxing" as a less-injurious form of cockfighting, where chickens wearing rubber "gloves" on their legs kick at one another in the ring as people watch.
"Instead of a blade or exposed spur, they hit each other with these boxing gloves on, which is quite safe," said Guillory. "There is a legitimate sport known as chicken boxing. It has nothing to do with cockfighting, and it is clear that this bill would interfere, would criminalize that legal enterprise."
Morrell then pointed out that "chicken boxing" as it was described is already against the law under the state's ban on cockfighting -- to which Guillory replied "These are not fighting chickens."
Despite Guillory's contradictory argument against the proposal, the committee voted to advance the loophole-closing bill to be debated on the senate floor -- perhaps with language added to ensure that "chicken boxing" is explicitly included under the cockfighting ban as well.
