Senator Calls Animal Rights Groups “Phonies”

Senator Frank Shurden, a Democrat from Henryetta, today called organizations like the Coalition to Ban Cockfighting, The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the U.S. a “bunch of phonies.”

“They really don’t give a damn about animals or chickens,” Senator Shurden stated. “They are only interested in punishing people.”

Shurden said the City of Oklahoma City confiscated about 90 chickens 75 days ago on January 29, 2004 from a poor Mexican-American family.

“Not one animal rights group has made any inquiry as to the health and welfare of the chickens. The animal rights groups are only interesting in seeing this poor family prosecuted for a $10,000 fine and 10 years in the State Penitentiary,” Shurden continued.

Shurden argued that the people of Oklahoma needed to know the truth behind the animal rights group movements.

“If the Oklahoma Legislature does not change the law on the possession and ownership of game foul, hundreds of law abiding Oklahomans will face felony charges if they do not slaughter their chickens,” he explained. “The animal rights groups do not care if three million game fowl are slaughtered, which is the real tragedy of this law. Kill them all or we will put you in prison is their cry.”

Shurden said the game fowl people love their birds. He says SB 835 will help reverse the unfairness of the anti-cockfighting law. The bill will be heard in the State Senate in the near future. He urged Oklahomans to call their legislators to help save the lives of these three million chickens and keep good people out of the penitentiary. Constituents can call the Senate at 405-521-0126 or the House of Representatives at 405-521-2711 to urge the passage of SB 835.