Gallegly Animal Fighting Bill Passes U.S. Senate
Legislation beefing up animal fighting penalties has sailed through the U.S. Senate and is poised to become law.
The bill by Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks, makes violations of federal animal fighting law a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. It also makes it a felony to transport animals or certain cockfighting blades across state or international borders for fighting.
Gallegly has unsuccessfully pushed his animal-fighting bill for several years over the objections of the National Rifle Association. As recently as March, some House anti-abortion lawmakers also objected to it, contending that the proposed cockfighting laws elevate the lives of chickens over unborn children.
Ultimately, the House in March passed the bill 368 to 39. Last night's Senate passage means the bill now heads to President Bush's desk for his signature.
Gallegly on Wednesday called cockfighting and dogfighting a "cruel enterprise."
"Other crimes often go hand-in-hand with animal fighting, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking and acts of human violencem," he said in a statement, adding, "In the last six months, virtually every reported arrest at an animal fight also led to additional arrests for at least one of these criminal activities."
Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society predicted the bill will have a significant impact.
"There is a vast underground network of dogfighting and cockfighting operations at work throughout the country, and his legislation will give law enforcement the tools to crack down on the barbaric practice of staged animal fights," Pacelle said.