Cockfighting law change bill put on hold

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A bill proposing a reduction in penalties for cockfighting has been put on hold until next year's legislative session. <br><br>Senator Frank Shurden of Henryetta announced he's

Friday, May 30th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A bill proposing a reduction in penalties for cockfighting has been put on hold until next year's legislative session.

Senator Frank Shurden of Henryetta announced he's decided to hold the measure, which calls for a vote of the people on the issue.

The bill proposed reducing first-offense cockfighting penalties from a felony punishable by a prison term to a misdemeanor punishable by a jail term of up to a year and a fine of up to 2-thousand dollars.

Shurden has said he thinks most Oklahomans believe the penalties in the cockfighting ban approved by voters last year are too severe.