News
Cockfighting Passes One More Hurdle
February 25, 2007, 12:0AM MT
By Karol Dellit
by Karol Dellit, Best Friends Animal Society
by Karol Dellit, Best Friends Animal Society
New Mexico's cockfighting ban cleared one more hurdle on February 24.
The House Agriculture and Water Resources Committed had voted 6 - 1 to send this bill to its final stop: The Judiciary Committee.
The proposed ban has been attempted for more than two decades. This year it has endorsements from Gov. Bill Richardson and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The prevailing arguments from those who support cockfighting is its time-honored culture. Those who oppose it, simply state: it isn't about culture, rural vs. urban -- it's about animal cruelty.
Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, the bill's sponsor, mentions that every eye is now on New Mexico to see if we have the courage to ban this "sport." New Mexico and Louisiana are still the remaining states in the nation allowing cockfighting.
As of this article date, there are not updates as to the next and final hearing date. Once that is revealed, it will be posted here, along with any forthcoming updates.