Proposal for county-option cockfighting expected in the Oklahoma Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Another bid to legalize cockfighting in Oklahoma is expected this week.<br/><br/>State Senator Frank Shurden plans a ballot proposal that would allow counties the option to legalize

Monday, March 13th 2006, 10:13 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Another bid to legalize cockfighting in Oklahoma is expected this week.

State Senator Frank Shurden plans a ballot proposal that would allow counties the option to legalize the bloodsport that was banned statewide in 2002.

In that vote, 57 counties were against the 2002 cockfighting ban. Shurden believes those areas might legalize the sport.

The Henryetta Democrat says one time cockfighting was a $100-million industry in Oklahoma.

Only Louisiana and some counties in New Mexico now have laws allowing cockfighting.

Cynthia Armstrong of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting says the effort is an attempt to rewrite the rules of a statewide election after the votes have been counted.