Growing up in rural Georgia in mid-20th Century, there were
several fellows near our place who raised and fought
gamecocks. Tagging along with my father on visits, I recall
admiring their plumage and being shown one of the spurs. I
don't believe cockfighting was outlawed in Georgia back then,
although it is now. The fights were somewhat underground even
then and I think the likely reason was the gambling certain
to take place and to a much lesser extent the sale of bootleg
liquor in what was a bone-dry county. The area preachers were
hell on gambling and drinking and would have pushed for
raids.
The movie "Cockfighter" was filmed in Georgia. As a reporter
covering the state legislature, I remember a dazed looking
Troy Donahue being introduced in the state senate. Too bad I
didn't know enough to seek out Willeford. I've never read his
COCKFIGHTER JOURNAL. Has it ever been reprinted?
Richard Moore
--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "uplandharmabooks"
<uplandharmabooks@...> wrote:
>
> Has cockfighting always been against the law? When I
read Cockfighter
> a few weeks ago I got curious about this same topic
because there were
> cops at some of the fights for security. I looked it
up on wikipedia
> which claims that cockfighting is legal in New
Mexico and Louisiana,
> but didn't see a date when laws against it were
passed in other
> states.
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