Cockfighting Editorial Misses the Mark
Tulsa World
Letter to the Editor
Submitted
I'm writing in response to an editorial in the March 13th Tulsa World.
By saying that our legislators are 'flipping us the bird,' there is the
implication that they aren't thinking in the best interest of Oklahomans.
I see this in a totally different light. Yes, the initiative did pass, but
I didn't vote for it. I voted against it not because I like the idea of
cockfighting; I do not. I worry about the size and cost of government;
look at our budget situation in Oklahoma to see my point.
Who will pay to house and feed those convicted of felonious possession of
chickens? It will be us, the citizens of the State of Oklahoma, the
taxpayers. Our state budget is overextended as it is. Does it seem like
the right thing to do is add more prisoners by adding to the list of criminal
offenses? More prisoners cost more money; this doesn't even begin to deal
with the prison overcrowding situation, or the additional resources
required by law-enforcement agencies. Where are we going to put all of the
felony-convicted cockfighters?
Prisons are built to protect society from the actions of people who would
commit force or fraud, those who put law-abiding citizens at risk. Prisons
are not built as a place to put those we disagree with. Please, as the
editorial suggests, call the senators who passed this measure. But thank
them for trying to save us the money and resources that enforcement of the
measure would cost us, the taxpayers. Thank you, Senator Shurden. Thank you
and your co-sponsors for trying to save prison space for real criminals.
Jimmy Cook, Claremore
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