LETTERS: HSUS SUPPORTS BILLS TO BAN COCKFIGHTING

To the editor:

The Humane Society of the United States strongly supports SB 13 and HB 16, Missouri legislation to ban cockfighting, bearfighting and other forms of animal cruelty.

The Missouri Legislature in 1980 passed a prohibition on animal fighting, but five years later the Missouri Supreme Court invalidated certain sections of the statute. Since that decision was handed down, Missouri has been one of only five states in the nation that allow the archaic and cruel spectator sport of cockfighting.

There is a culture of cruelty that is spawned by cockfighting. Children routinely attend cockfights and learn that violence against animals is acceptable and even fun.

Forty-five states have banned cockfighting. Missouri should join these states in outlawing this barbaric spectator sport.

WENDELL MADDOX, Director

Midwest Regional Office

Humane Society of the United States

Kansas City