The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act (U.S. Senate 1947/H.R. 2492) would make it a federal offense to attend an organized animal fight and
increases the penalties for bringing a minor (a person under 18) to a cockfight, dogfight, or any other staged animal fight.
The U.S. Senate passed S. 1947 on December 4, 2012. The companion bill H.R. 2492 is now in the U.S. House of Representatives Committees on Agriculture and
Judiciary. Please contact your U.S. House Representative and urge him or her to support H.R. 2492, The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act.
The Honorable _____________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative ______________:
As a member of your congressional district, I am writing to urge you please to support The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act (US S. 1947/H.R.
2492). This legislation would make it a federal offense to attend an organized animal fight and increases penalties for bringing a minor to a cockfight,
dogfight, or any other staged animal fight. The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act will strengthen federal-level penalties for participation in
animal fighting activities. Please support H.R. 2492 and advise me of your decision. Thank you very much for your attention. I look forward to hearing from
you.
Sincerely,
Your name, mailing address/zipcode & email address & phone number
------------------------------
To learn the name of your U.S. House Representative, call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Or visit www.house.gov/. Where it says Find Your Representative, enter your zipcode and the information you need will pop up.
Here is UPC’s letter to U.S. House Rep. E. Scott Rigell by email and regular mail:
December 19, 2012
The Honorable E. Scott Rigell
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
http://rigell.house.gov/contact/
Dear Representative Rigell:
I am writing to you as a member of your congressional district on the Eastern Shore to urge you to support The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act of
2011 (US S. 1947/H.R. 2492). This legislation, which passed the Senate December 4, 2012, would make it a federal offense to attend an organized animal
fight and increases the penalties for bringing a minor (a person under 18 years old) to a cockfight, dogfight or any other staged animal fight.
As you may recall, in 2008, the Commonwealth of Virginia amended the Code of Virginia Section 3.1-796.124 to strengthen the state’s animal fighting
law and penalties for engaging in organized animal fights, including cockfights, for amusement, sport, or financial gain.
The citizens of Virginia and of the United States oppose staged animal fights and support legislation prohibiting and penalizing participation in these
activities in which animal cruelty, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, public corruption, even murder, are involved.
In 2007, the U.S. Congress passed legislation providing felony-level penalties for interstate and foreign animal fighting activities and outlawing commerce
in cockfighting weapons.
The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act (S. 1947/H.R. 2492) will strengthen the federal legislation. I therefore ask you please to support H.R. 2492.
Thank you for your kind attention to my letter. I look forward to your decision.
Sincerely,
Karen Davis, PhD, President
United Poultry Concerns
12325 Seaside Road, PO Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405
Office: 757-678-7875
Email: Karen@upc-online.org
8 January 2013
Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act Update
Unfortunately, H.R. 2492, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which passed the Senate (S. 1947) on Dec. 4, 2012, did not pass the House of
Representatives in 2012. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s1947
