Oklahoma Could Reduce Penalties for Cockfighting While Texas Still a 'Hotspot'

[douglas9]

Legislators in Oklahoma are trying to reduce criminal penalties for dogfighting and cockfighting.

Oklahoma House Bill 2530 would have reduced the charge for cockfighting from a felony to a misdemeanor. Senate Bill 1006 would have allowed individual counties in Oklahoma to vote on reducing the cockfighting penalty to a misdemeanor.

Those two bills have since died in their respective chambers, but another sweeping penalty reduction bill could have a similar effect.

House Bill 1792, filed by Rep. Mike Osburn, would reduce penalties for several crimes in Oklahoma, including dogfighting and cockfighting. Animal fighting would still be a felony if HB 1792 is enacted, but the associated fines would be reduced. Under the bill, the maximum fine for dogfighting goes from $25,000 to $500. Current Oklahoma law punishes cockfighting with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. HB 1792 would make the maximum fine for cockfighting $2,000. It doesn’t say how it would change prison time.


https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/oklahoma-could-reduce-penalties-for-animal-fighting-16381035