(April 25, 2014)--In response to WAVE News’ undercover investigation of Matt Bevin’s comments at a pro-cockfighting rally, Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, released the following statement:
“Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states, although in Kentucky and a few other states with weak misdemeanor penalties, the cockfighters hope law enforcement will look the other way when a crime is in progress. The only people who want to legalize this blood sport are those who strap razor-sharp knives to the legs of birds and force them to slash each other to death, just for the entertainment of spectators who place gambling bets and are titillated by the bloodletting and violence. Matt Bevin showed appalling judgment in associating himself with this band of lawbreakers and perpetrators of unspeakable animal cruelty. Serious-minded candidates and public-office holders should stand against all forms of animal cruelty, whether cockfighting, dogfighting or horse soring.”
Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (240) 477-2251, hsullivan@hslf.org
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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
