By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Del. Riley E. Ingram, R-Hopewell, may have found the right time and political atmosphere to overcome a previously immovable object in the General Assembly—opposition to legislation that would strengthen Virginia’s cock-fighting laws.
Then again, the former Hopewell mayor’s bid to get tough on cockfighting may suffer enough cuts to die on the floor along with previous bids to end bird bloodbaths, based on recent General Assembly history.
A barbaric blood sport, fighting chickens to the death has enough followers in rural Virginia that bills to criminalize it the way dog-fighting has been outlawed fall short of making their way out of the legislative ring.
Just ask Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, who had to drop anti-cockfighting provisions from a bill he had a few years back stiffening the state’s dogfighting laws.
Ingram is quarterbacking the effort to end cockfighting this year with his House Bill 32, which would criminalize the business of cockfighting as it makes a Class 1 misdemeanor out of an activity that now carries lesser fines only if betting is proven or admission is charged.
Ingram’s bill is summarized on Richmond Sunlight http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2008/hb32/ as covering the “fighting of cocks and other animals; penalty. Increases the penalty for engaging in the fighting of cocks or other animals, except dogs, from a Class 3 to a Class 1 misdemeanor. Currently, the penalties only apply if (i) the fighting occurs for money, prizes, or anything of value, (ii) an admissions fee is charged, or (iii) wagering occurs. These conditions are removed. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to possess, own, train, or sell cocks or other animals, except dogs, for fighting.“
The dog-fighting advocates are washed up in Virginia, so maybe it is time to add cockfighting to the list of banned barbarities.
Since other lobbies are weaker, the rabbit-fighting lobby may be of little use to the chicken-fighting advocates who, no doubt, will aim a sharp spur at Ingram’s bill.
By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Radio talk show host Neal Boortz must enjoy getting science wrong.
The Atlanta-based libertarian told his audience this week that an ice storm in Oklahoma is further evidence that global warming is a “hoax.“
One day’s weather in Oklahoma— in December yet—will surely cause the vast majority of the nation’s scientists to stop practicing their science in learning more and more about global warming and its causes. Perhaps they will join Boortz in enjoying the science he practices—blowing hard enough anti-science to the wind to incite laughter.
The next time Boortz preaches tax policy, people should recall the handle he has on science.
By Bob Gibson
Daily Progress political blogger
Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge, is looking for a little help in the path to make his House Bill 55, which he introduced last week, into a law that would again designate English the official language of Virginia.
While the legislation looks more like an attempt to stop the state from using other languages unless someone is sick, in school or in court, Lingamfelter responded to a query about the bill by saying he is open to suggestions.
Fellow bloggers, I say suggest away. Lend us your ears, your fears, your suggested amendments or fates for this bill.
My e-mail to Lingamfelter asked, “Scott, What’s the purpose of your new House Bill 55? I didn’t know the state was doing a lot of stuff in foreign languages.“
His response: “Bob, I just didn’t want legitimate foreign language instruction in schools to be impacted…may not be necessary but I put it in initially…I’m open to suggestions. Scott”
Should the state write more English, or better English, or any kind of official English restrictions on the use of other languages into the Code of Virginia?
Should the state stop speaking in foreign tongues?
Would barring the state from speaking in other tongues violate anyone’s freedom of religion?
