On Chickens
Being a chicken is a tricky business. In addition to traditional enemies like foxes, today chickens have to be wary of McDonalds and their McNuggets and the evil Colonel Saunders. In the State of Louisiana though, there are even greater perils to worry these creatures, which have been making the news of late.
It turns out that Cockfighting is still legal in Louisiana. Many people find this fact surprising, given that, for example, this activity was outlawed in England back in 1835 (it was not outlawed in Scotland until 1895). Every few years, there is an attempt at prohibiting cockfighting, but these attempts seldom get anywhere. There has been another attempt this year, which appears to be doing better than usual, due to fears about so-called 'bird flu'. This is why the matter has been making the news.
Many people find the notion of cockfighting problematic, on the grounds that it is cruel to the animals involved. Indeed, Louisiana Revised Statutes, 14:102.1 which describes 'Cruelty to animals; Simple and aggravated' prohibits most forms of animal cruelty. However, Section D of this statute contains the following remarkable provision:
"For purposes of this section, fowl shall not be defined as animals."
So, under Louisiana law, chickens, roosters and their feathered friends are denied status as animals, as a matter of definition! The law is silent on whether chickens should be considered vegetable, or mineral instead. By way of this legislative 'fiat' cockfighting remains a perfectly legal activity, at least for now.
It is important to also realize that this is not some arcane and abstract legal matter. At least one of the workers in my building actively engages in cockfighting on a regular basis. He is concerned about this latest attempt at legislative prohibition. This man is clearly no monster. I only found out about his hobby one day when, as we had done many times before, we were smoking together outside the building. He considers cockfighting to be part of his heritage. Who am I to disagree?
The CP
It turns out that Cockfighting is still legal in Louisiana. Many people find this fact surprising, given that, for example, this activity was outlawed in England back in 1835 (it was not outlawed in Scotland until 1895). Every few years, there is an attempt at prohibiting cockfighting, but these attempts seldom get anywhere. There has been another attempt this year, which appears to be doing better than usual, due to fears about so-called 'bird flu'. This is why the matter has been making the news.
Many people find the notion of cockfighting problematic, on the grounds that it is cruel to the animals involved. Indeed, Louisiana Revised Statutes, 14:102.1 which describes 'Cruelty to animals; Simple and aggravated' prohibits most forms of animal cruelty. However, Section D of this statute contains the following remarkable provision:
So, under Louisiana law, chickens, roosters and their feathered friends are denied status as animals, as a matter of definition! The law is silent on whether chickens should be considered vegetable, or mineral instead. By way of this legislative 'fiat' cockfighting remains a perfectly legal activity, at least for now.
It is important to also realize that this is not some arcane and abstract legal matter. At least one of the workers in my building actively engages in cockfighting on a regular basis. He is concerned about this latest attempt at legislative prohibition. This man is clearly no monster. I only found out about his hobby one day when, as we had done many times before, we were smoking together outside the building. He considers cockfighting to be part of his heritage. Who am I to disagree?
The CP
posted by The Combat Philosopher at 5:35 PM
4 comments
