By John Dobberstein, Editor
With a dogfighting case in Oklahoma poised to take the national spotlight if it goals to trial, two U.S. Senators have reintroduced legislation to toughen existing federal animal fighting laws.
The Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Animal Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, put forth by John Kennedy (R-La.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), would provide more tools to law enforcement and citizens to curtail cockfighting and dogfighting.
“Those engaging in dog and cock fights are abusive, organized and dangerous—and their heinous behavior must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Kennedy said in a statement. “It’s illegal to abuse God’s creatures for sport, and this bill would give law enforcement crucial tools to end this cruel practice.”
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“Animal fighting is cruel, illegal, and unacceptable,” adds Booker. “It’s time we take stronger action to stop these heinous abuses against animals and protect them from being exploited for entertainment and profit. This bill will tighten enforcement to put a stop to illegal animal fighting.”
- Ban simulcasting and gambling on animal fights in the U.S., no matter where the broadcast signals for dogfights and cockfights originate.
- Halt shipments of mature roosters (chickens only) shipped through U.S. mail. This legislation does not address shipments of baby chicks, which are used in accepted agricultural operations. Shipping dogs through the mail is already illegal.
- Creates a citizen suit provision allowing private right of action against illegal animal fighters and ease the resource burden on federal agencies.
- Enhances forfeiture provisions to include real property used in the commission of an animal fighting crime.
Proponents of the law also will help protect public health and slow infections of commercial poultry flocks. Virulent Newcastle disease has entered the U.S. through the illegal smuggling of infected cockfighting roosters from Mexico at least 10 times, causing more than a billion dollars in losses and depopulation of millions of birds, mainly used in commercial production, authorities have said.
The full bill text of the FIGHT Act is available here.
The legislation is of note after a Broken Arrow man, LeShon Eugene Johnson, 54, was indicted by a federal grand jury last month on charges of possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture and for selling, transporting, and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture.
A federal judge recently granted a motion by Johnson’s lawyers to delay the trial in the case, moving it back from early May to July.
The 190 pit bull and pit bull-type dogs seized by the FBI is believed to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dogfighting case.
Federal law prohibits fighting dogs in a venture that effects interstate commerce, as well as possessing, training, transporting, delivering, selling, purchasing or receiving dogs for fighting purposes. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty on each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI’s Shreveport Resident Agency office is investigating the case.
The animals are being housed by a private U.S. Marshal’s Office contractor since last fall when the FBI raided Johnson’s home in Broken Arrow and a property near Haskell.
Kevin Chambers says
Congressman Kevin Hern and Senators Mullin and Lankford should be cosponsoring the FIGHT Act, given that Oklahoma seems to be a hub of animal fighting. We should reach out to them and ask them to sign on.