Why is Chicken Fighting Illegal?

Chicken fighting, also known as cockfighting, is a cruel blood sport where two roosters are placed beak to beak in a small ring and forced to fight to the death. But why is this activity completely banned in the United States?

The Inherent Cruelty of Chicken Fighting

The main reason chicken fighting is illegal is because it is extremely cruel to the animals involved. Roosters used in organized cockfights have their natural fighting instincts enhanced through selective breeding, training, steroids, vitamins and more. They may undergo obstacle course training and practice fights leading up to the actual event.

The breeders will cut off the rooster’s wattles (the fleshy part under the beak) and earlobes so the opponent cannot tear them off during battle. Right before the fight the feathers on the bird’s lower body will be plucked out. The roosters often wear sharp gaffs or knives attached to their legs designed to inflict maximum damage.

Once in the ring, the roosters viciously attack each other with their knife-like gaffs, trying to puncture lungs, pierce eyes and break bones These fights can last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes, ending when one bird is dead or severely maimed and unable to continue. This immense suffering and mortality rates make chicken fighting inherently inhumane and cruel.

The Criminal Elements Associated with Cockfighting

Another reason chicken fighting is completely outlawed is because the events are magnets for other criminal activity. Huge sums of money change hands through gambling on the fights, with bets ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Cockfighting also draws gang members and encourages illegal drug use and violence.

Deadly weapons are commonplace with all the cash present. To avoid detection, organizers regularly move the locations of fights. Law enforcement raids across the country have found cockfighting venues filled with many types of criminal elements. The party-like atmosphere actually makes it seem mainstream and family friendly.

The Broad Scope of Chicken Fighting Laws

Cockfighting is banned on both the federal and state levels. The federal Animal Welfare Act says that animal fight ads can’t be sent through the mail or in interstate commerce. This lets the federal government go after people who help national cockfighting networks.

Every single state also has laws making chicken fighting a felony offense. The scope of illegal activities is broad, covering possession of fighting birds, attendance as a spectator, training animals to fight, organizing fights, gambling on fights, manufacturing implements for cockfighting and more. Even bringing a minor to a chicken fight is a federal crime.

Severe Penalties for Those Involved

The penalties for engaging in any aspect of chicken fighting are quite severe. Under federal law, the basic offense carries up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Bringing a minor to a fight has a sentence of up to 3 years and a $250,000 fine. Even being a spectator is a federal misdemeanor with possible 1 year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

At the state level, felony convictions can also lead to years behind bars and huge fines. Additionally, law enforcement can seize property, vehicles and animals connected to these crimes. The broad laws and harsh penalties demonstrate that chicken fighting will absolutely not be tolerated.

An Ineffective Deterrent Against Animal Cruelty

Although cockfighting has continued illegally, some argue the laws have been ineffective at actually deterring the cruel blood sport. The substantial gambling money involved entices people to take the risk of charges. And being such an underground activity, many fights evade detection entirely.

But making cockfighting illegal does give police the power to raid and shut down events when they are found. For their part, the felony charges they face are punishments that keep them from living in society. Even though the laws haven’t always worked as well as they should, they do serve as a warning that forcing animals to fight to the death is cruel and has no place in modern society.

Preserving Public Morals and Safety

Ultimately, cockfighting is banned because it violates public morals and threatens public safety. Forcing animals into a cruel blood sport for entertainment and gambling is morally reprehensible to most of society. And the presence of weapons, gangs, drugs and violence puts communities at risk.

By taking a strong legal stance against chicken fighting from local to federal levels, the law sends a clear message that this activity will not be accepted or tolerated. Animal cruelty, gambling, violence, dangerous weapons, illegal drugs – these criminal elements have all coalesced around cockfighting ventures, necessitating tough legal prohibitions.

The Bottom Line

All over the United States, chicken fighting is against the law because it hurts animals and is linked to organized crime. It also puts public safety and morals at risk. Laws are very strict against this violent blood sport because it is a felony with harsh punishments. Even though the broad bans haven’t always worked to stop people from cockfighting, they do allow police to crack down on events and charge those involved with a crime if they are caught. In the end, forcing animals to fight to the death is a very cruel and violent practice that has no place in a civilized society.