Michael Vick Calls Alabama Cockfighting Law 'Weakest' In Nation

Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium on December 24, 2011 in Arlington, Texas.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has made another effort to say animal cruelty is wrong, urging Alabama lawmakers to increase penalties for cockfighting.

Vick says in a statement Monday that Alabama's cockfighting law is the nation's "weakest" because the $50 fine is the maximum punishment. Vick has been outspoken against animal cruelty since he served 16 months in federal prison on a dog-fighting conviction.

Vick says he doesn't want others to make the same mistake of being cruel to animals.

Sen. Cam Ward introduced a bill that would upgrade the state's penalty for illegal cockfighting to a class A misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $6,000. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee early in the session, but the Senate Rules Committee refused to bring up the bill for a vote.

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Comments

[STEPHEN HUTSON]

08:19 PM on 10/10/2012

Everyone wants to tell "other' people what to do. Chickens are farm animals(chop their heads off and eat them) while dogs are pets. Cockfighting WAS a billion dollar industry but now is almost non-existent. Tax revenue is gone. With this type action and thinking, no wonder our country is in such an economic mess.

[Stephen Thorpe]

06:21 AM on 04/20/2012

Didn't Vick do all of his Cock fighting back in the Penn?

[RusStyles]

03:01 PM on 04/18/2012

Charles Dutton, the successful thespiian, made serious mistakes as a young man; he killed a human being, served his time, then violated his parole for carrying a gun and served another three years. Got into more trouble and was confined to solitary...This is when he read a play and was inspired to become an actor. Fortunately when he was released the second time there were people who were willing to give him another chance, and he made the most of it. The man has an impressive resume of theater, film and tv successes, including many awards.

There are many other people who committted terrible crimes, and through their faith and/support from others, they turned into productive citizens. People deserve a second shot, especailly after they've been accountable and contrite for their actions. Fortunately the Eagle organization determined Vick was accountable, and understood how wrong his actions were even though he grew up in a sub culture where dog-fighting was acceptable, as it is in other countries. I don't know Vick personally, but I am good judge of character...And I believed him when he apologized for his barbaric actions. There's no pressure on him to speak out against cockfighting. He has wealth, sponsors, a family and a substantial fan base. He's backing up his apology with action, making a difference, showing leadership...what else do the unforgiving Vick-haters want him to do to prove he's a changed man? I doubt it....

[hungryaardvark]

11:09 AM on 04/18/2012

And all along I thought that cockfighting was the definition of football. Silly me.

[Quotidien]

08:11 AM on 04/18/2012

Chickens are delicious. Dogs aren't that tasty.

[DanoX]

04:04 AM on 04/18/2012

"but the Senate Rules Committee refused to bring up the bill for a vote."
Translated: The Republicans on the Senate Rules Committee refused to bring up this common sense bill for fear of losing votes from their idiot redneck base.

[lifelongdemo]

07:17 AM on 04/18/2012

F&F Alabama why am I not surprised. Another bible belt state that treats humans and animals dreadfully. Just who do they pray to?

[hungryaardvark]

11:06 AM on 04/18/2012

It's more about who and what they prey on in Alabama than what unicorn they pray to.

[royalchant]

03:24 AM on 04/18/2012

Holy Moly, this thread is brimming with forgiveness!

[JParker145]

01:11 PM on 04/18/2012

It's easy to forgive someone who is truly sorry. But it's not quite so easy to forgive as quickly when the person is only sorry because they got caught. Should we still forgive him? Absolutely, we should. Can we forgive him? I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, I can only say I'll try. because I know that's what God wants me to do. But it's just so hard to do when thinking of what he put those poor dogs through, and feeling he would do it again if he knew he wouldn't get caught.

[felide]

12:15 AM on 04/18/2012

ridiculous, he is very sorry, sorry he got caught ..! and as for cockfighting he probobly decided to speak out against it because someone saw him at one and he thought '' uh oh , how can i turn this into a positive thing ?. now in his off season he can focus on important things ..like bear baiting.

[Prousa]

09:06 PM on 04/17/2012

Ohhhhhh....chickens.....nvm

[killkubota]

08:35 PM on 04/17/2012

What's wrong with fightin chickens? I don't see a problem.

[JParker145]

12:34 PM on 04/18/2012

Are you actually saying you see nothing wrong with it? Even a chicken is an animal, an animal that feels pain, fear, hunger, etc., just as other animals do. Any form of animal abuse is wrong.

[The Right]

06:21 PM on 04/17/2012

Vick, go back to PA. Alabama will be fine without your showmanship. Stick to your drugs.

[belldn3]

06:20 PM on 04/17/2012

Pot calling the kettle BLACK!

[Bklein153]

05:38 PM on 04/17/2012

I am sure glad he chimed in! What's net, Elliot Spitzer's gonna tell not to go to strip clubs, Charlie Sheen will warn us of the dangers of caffeine? I sometimes hate this country

[The Right]

06:23 PM on 04/17/2012

Damn, you were doing pretty good until that last stupid remark. Sometimes it is just best to say something and then leave it alone.

[Bklein153]

08:08 AM on 04/18/2012

It's not visceral hate - like I want to leave America - its more of a very large and unsettling disappointment

[lmab]

07:49 AM on 04/18/2012

The feeling is mutual.

[Darci Scott]

05:04 PM on 04/17/2012

i find it hard to believe that anyone who engaged in the animal cruelty that vick was responsible for would truely have a change of heart regarding the inhumane..ness of the deed......

however, i do give him credit for supporting the anti-cruelty campaigns, whether his heart is truely in it or not, at least him stepping forward like this will help, even if in a small way....

[interject]

05:02 PM on 04/17/2012

What? Is he lobbying for Dog Fighting?