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On August 17, 1999, the Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting (OCAC), a group of concerned Oklahoma citizens, filed with the Secretary of State its intention to place a measure on the ballot that would outlaw the cruel practice of cockfighting. OCAC supporters include many diverse organizations and individuals across the state and the nation who share a concern about this barbaric form of animal cruelty.

Over 480 individuals in 113 towns and cities in Oklahoma participated in the gathering of 100,000 signatures (approximately 70,000 signatures were needed to qualify this initiative for the ballot.)

Cockfighters - desperate to prevent a vote of the people on this issue - challenged the validity of the signatures and made bogus arguments that the measure was unconstitutional. After a lengthy battle spanning two years, the State Supreme Court, in November 2001, unanimously ruled to validate 90,000 of the 100,000 signatures submitted!

The measure was placed on the 2002 Oklahoma ballot and on November 5th, 2002 the voters of Oklahoma overwhelmingly approved State Question 687 to ban cockfighting, with 56.2% voting "yes" and 43.8 percent voting "no". By approving the measure, Oklahoma became the 48th state in the nation to ban cockfighting. Also in that election voters handily rejected State Question 698, a measure referred to the ballot by the Legislature which would have nearly doubled the number of signatures needed to qualify any animal welfare initiative for the ballot. The vote was 46% favoring SQ698 and 54 percent rejecting it. In all, a double-barreled win for animal advocates in Oklahoma on election day.

The Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting wishes to thank the people of Oklahoma for the statewide law to rid our state of this form of animal cruelty. They exhibited good judgment and humane sensibility in outlawing cockfighting and maintaining the current initiative qualification standards. It was indeed an embarrassment to Oklahoma to be known as one of the last bastions of these cruel gladiatorial spectacles. Special thanks go to Governor Frank Keating who spoke out in the strongest terms in favor of SQ 687 and against SQ 698. We also thank Steve Largent and Senator James Inhofe for speaking out against cockfighting and endorsing the intiative. And, special thanks to the state's two largest newspapers, the Tulsa World and the Daily Oklahoman for their hard-hitting editorials endorsing SQ 687 and opposing SQ 698.

Shortly after the passage of SQ687, cockfighting enthusiasts filed lawsuits in 35 counties to halt enforcement of the law. We immediately began work with Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson to consolidate these cases and bring them before the Oklahoma Supreme Court for a final ruling. On March 30, 2004 the Court finally swept aside the flimsy arguments and courtroom antics of the cockfighters and ruled that the cockfighting law voters overwhelmingly passed in 2002 is constitutional. The high court's opinion was unanimous and in that ruling stated that prohibition against using birds for fighting purposes is a "reasonable and proper exercise of the police power of the state". The Court also said, "The Act serves the significant and legitimate public purpose of preventing cruelty to animals and prohibiting human involvement in birdfighting, obviously out of compassion for avian creatures." The court opinion additionally stated that, "a statutory enactment passed by the people through the initiative process is entitled to the same presumption of constitutionality as one passed by the Legislature."

In 2003 and 2004 Senator Frank Shurden, (D - Henryetta) announced his intention to introduce legislation to weaken or repeal SQ687. Shurden was the author of the failed SQ 698 and he is the Legislature's leading cockfighting enthusiast. His numerous attempts to subvert the will of the people have been an outrageous slap at democratic decision making. The Tulsa World and The Oklahoman have both denounced Shurden's ill-conceived plans to undermine a statewide election.

Through an intensive lobbying campaiagn and tremendous grassroots support from Oklahomans, the Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting has thus far been able to thwart Senator Shurden's efforts in the Oklahoma Legislature to repeal or weaken the law. However, immediately following the close of the 2004 session and a resounding defeat of Shurden's Senate Bill 835, Senator Shurden vowed again to attempt legislation in the 2005 session to repeal the law the voters passed!

The Oklahoma Coalition Against Cockfighting pledges to continue its fight to uphold Oklahoma's anti-cockfighting law and monitor any legislative or legal attempts to overturn SQ687.

PLEASE SEE OUR HOME PAGE FOR LEGISLATIVE CONTACT INFORMATION!

(This information updated 06-03-04)