GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 679

Short Title:        Strengthen Prohibition on Cockfighting.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senator Newton.
Referred to:	Judiciary II.

April 20, 2011

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to strengthen the law prohibiting cockfighting and related activities.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 14-362 reads as rewritten:

"§ 14-362.  Cockfighting.

(a)        A person who instigates, promotes, conducts, is employed at, allows property under his ownership or control to be used for, participates as a spectator at, or profits from an exhibition featuring the fighting of a cock rooster, gamecock, or other fighting bird is guilty of a Class I felony. A lease of property that is used or is intended to be used for an exhibition featuring the fighting of a cock rooster, gamecock, or other fighting bird is void, and a lessor who knows this use is made or is intended to be made of his the lessor's property is under a duty to evict the lessee immediately.

(b) A person who owns, breeds, possesses, sells, or trains a rooster, gamecock, or other fighting bird with the intent that the bird be used in an exhibition featuring the baiting of that bird or the fighting of that bird with another bird or with another animal is guilty of a Class I felony.

(c) A person who manufactures, possesses, promotes, buys, sells, or transports any of the implements commonly known as gaffs or slashers, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a rooster, gamecock, or other fighting bird, or any device intended to enhance an animal's fighting ability or for use in an exhibition of animal fighting is guilty of a Class I felony.

(d) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Cockfight" means a fight between two or more birds that is arranged by a person and that has the purpose or probable result of one bird inflicting injury to another bird.

(2) "Fighting bird" means a bird, battlecock, cock, or rooster that is intentionally bred or trained for use in, or that actually is used in, a cockfight.

(3) "Gaff" means an artificial steel spur, designed for attachment to the leg of a fighting bird in replacement of the bird's natural spurs, consisting of a needle-like spike and of various lengths, also referred to as a bayonette, jagger, or skeleton.

(4) "Slasher" means a steel weapon resembling a curved knife blade designed for attachment to the foot of a fighting bird."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2011, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.