HB 1320 Cockfighting Legislation

Background: The "blood sport" of cockfighting is banned in all 50 states.  It's been a crime in Texas for over 100 years - since 1907.  Also, the U.S. Congress made it a felony to transport an animal across state lines to be used in an animal fighting venture.  That said, cockfighting is still rampant throughout Texas and is almost always accompanied by gambling, alcohol, drugs and firearms.  Often children are present and exposed to the cruelty of the "sport" as well as the violence that accompanies it.

The reason cockfighting is so prevalent in Texas is because the only way to prosecute a cockfighting offense is to actually witness two people fighting their birds.  Thus, when cockfighting raids are held, law enforcement generally comes up with only one or maybe two prosecutions for cockfighting since only one fighting event occurs at any one time.  Unlike most other states, it is not a crime in Texas to own or operate a facility for cockfighting; own cock fighting equipment; train a cock to fight; or attend a cockfight.

HB 1320 would make each of these support activities an offense and would also categorize cockfighting as organized crime and allow the seizure of cock fighting equipment as contraband.

For more information about HB 1320, see the Texas Humane Legislative Network.