Ban on fighting cocks begins
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Louisiana today became the 50th state to make cockfighting illegal, one of dozens of new laws that took effect shortly after midnight.
The new laws will ban the use of cell phones while driving a school bus and allow employees to keep lawfully-owned weapons in their cars and trucks at work.
Another one is designed to make sure that shrimp and crawfish customers in restaurants know when the delicacies come from outside the United States.
Still another law that takes effect today requires firms with more than 50 employees that offer health insurance coverage to add coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism disorders in children under 17. It applies to policies issued or renewed after Jan. 1, 2009.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social skills.
Other laws include new rules aimed at convicted sex offenders, graffiti and home invaders.
But the end of legal cockfighting in Louisiana — the issue triggered bitter arguments for years — is one of the most notable of those going into effect today.
The Louisiana Legislature approved the cockfighting ban in 2007 but its effective date was delayed.
The legislation gave operators 13 months to phase out operations. But the timetable failed to quell the debate on the volatile topic.
Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of The Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D. C., praised the Louisiana ban, which his group helped promote.
“We are delighted that this moment has arrived and we hope that all of the cockfighting enthusiasts in Louisiana abide by the law,” Pacelle said.
Not likely, said Todd Stelly of Opelousas, a fourth-generation cockfighter.
“All the law is going to do is run the chicken fights underground,” Stelly predicted. “It is not going to stop it.”
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