Humane Society Urges Amazon.Com To Quit Selling Cockfighting Mags

[flamingyouth]

People are totally sick...

SEATTLE - The Humane Society of the United States has threatened to sue Amazon.com Inc. unless it stops selling two magazines that promote cockfighting.

The animal welfare group said it first brought its concerns to Amazon.com's attention almost a year ago, urging the online retailer to remove The Gamecock and The Feathered Warrior from its Web site.

The Washington D.C.-based organization argues that Internet sales of the magazines violate the federal Animal Welfare Act, which bars use of mail or other means of interstate commerce to promote animal fighting, unless it's performed outside the United States.

"That's their claim, and we don't agree with their claim, so we're going to continue to make these titles available," Amazon.com spokeswoman Patty Smith said Tuesday afternoon. "It's up to the customer to determine what they feel is appropriate for them to purchase."

Smith said the company realizes that some people will find certain goods Amazon.com sells objectionable, but that it remains committed to fostering free speech and offering its customers as wide a selection of merchandise as possible.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/44481.htm

[Dob Bole]

1. There is actually a magazine about cockfighting? And it makes money?

If it really does violate the Animal Welfare Act, I'm surprised there is no lawsuit yet. Amazon.com is a really big target.

[sbj405]

2. From the magazine reviews . . .

First

"Reviewing this magazine found a strict notification, Grit and Steel will not knowingly publish any material conflicting with the Animal Welfare Act of 1976 or any other state or federal laws, seeming to immediately calm any questions or accusations of impropriety or otherwise."

And then another,

"Grit and Steel is one of the greatest literary works of our time. You can literally feel the feathers and blood erupting around you as you turn page after page."

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007AXOU/sr=8-3/qid=1155983216/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-7767381-9161753?ie=UTF8

[flvegan]

3. I think HSUS would lose this one.

Though I certainly support it, APHIS has taken a stance on cockfighting, however, unless I'm mistaken, "rats, mice and birds" are specifically exempted from the Animal Welfare Act. That appears to be a loophole one could drive a truck through. These magazines, much like the game dog publications have an open disclaimer against using animals illegally.

It's bad publicity for Amazon.com, which might be better than the actual lawsuit.

[LeftyMom]

4. Do we really want to go there?

First of all, getting rid of the magazines isn't going to do a thing to stop cockfighting, since people can discuss any crazy-assed illegal thing on the internets.

Secondly, getting amazon to stop selling them won't get rid of them, since people who want them will still be able to order them directly from whatever sick fucks publish them or from someplace overseas where cockfighting is legal.

Third, cockfighting is still (sadly) legal in two states.

Fourth, and this is my big concern, there are plenty of magazines out there that deal with illegal (or potentially illegal) activities. If anybody wanted them to stop selling AR related magazines that portray liberation in a positive light, we'd all throw a fit and rightfully so, though illegal activity is often involved. If Amazon were to get rid of any magazines that routinely discuss illegal activity, they'd have to nix stuff as disperate as High Times (drugs are bad, m'kay?") car magazines that that mention high speeds or nitrous (that would be just about all of 'em,) Dobson's parenting books (he mentions spanking with an object, which is illegal in California,) most porn and a fair percentage of literature with sex scenes (since toys, oral and anal- all porn staples- are illegal in some parts of the country,) Shakespeare (underage sex,) the bible (ditto) blah blah blah you get my point.

The magazines aren't the problem. The magazines are a good tool for LEOs to get names, evidence, to establish that evidence located is associated with cockfighting, etc. Posessing them would look awful in front of a judge or jury. Lets leave them out there and use them to monitor this shit, and spend our time writing to get a federal law on this issue, to close up the APHIS loopholes mentioned above, to get the two states where cockfighting is legal to change thier laws, to encourage more prosecutions and tougher sentances.