Senate committee passes legislation to ban interstate transfer of birds for cockfighting

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Senate Agriculture Committee voted Thursday to ban the interstate transfer of birds for cockfighting. <br><br>The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote. The same bill passed

Friday, November 16th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Senate Agriculture Committee voted Thursday to ban the interstate transfer of birds for cockfighting.

The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote. The same bill passed the House last month.

The Senate Agriculture Committee passed the provision as part of its overall farm bill.

Federal law prohibits the shipment across state lines of most animals for fighting purposes, but birds can be shipped to one of the three states where cockfighting is still legal, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Louisiana.

Supporters say the loophole gives illegal cockfighters in the other 47 states an easy defense when confronted by police: They were merely raising the birds for shipment.