Resolutions aimed at demonstrating legislators' support of the blood sport of cockfighting have met their rightful death on the House floor. If the purpose of the resolutions was to gain national attention for Hawaii having among the weakest laws against cruelty to animals, the effort was a success. Next year's Legislature should turn instead to toughening the laws.

Legislators said at the opening of the session that they would pay little, if any, attention to controversial bills not pertaining to the state's economic woes. That was the reason given for shelving a bill that would have given gays and lesbian the right to civil unions.

When they scheduled a hearing on a resolution to support cockfighting as a cultural activity, they were rightly flooded with testimony in opposition. House members recommitted the resolutions to committee by voice vote on Tuesday.

The resolutions state that “;cockfighting has a long and cherished tradition in many cultures throughout the world.”; The resolutions are accurate in stating that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson participated in cockfighting. Of course, they also owned slaves. Times change and repugnant traditions are abandoned.

Each of the resolutions states that it supports cockfighting “;as a cultural activity”; but “;does not support gambling, betting or gaffs,”; which are sharp spurs attached to the rooster's feet, all of which are integral to cockfighting. People engage in cockfighting to bet.

Some Islam societies traditionally engage in stoning women for engaging in nonmarital sex. In parts of Africa, female genital mutilation is considered cultural. If those activities were discovered in the United States, the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

So it is and ought to be with cockfighting, even though what the resolutions describe as the “;proud and Hispanic tradition”; is legal and regulated in the Philippines. It is not a proud tradition in Hawaii, where King Kalakaua declared it illegal in 1884.

In America, cockfighting is against the law in all 50 states, and Congress has made interstate or foreign transportation of roosters for fighting purposes or of paraphernalia, such as gaffs, a felony. The resolutions state that such shipping by breeders continues, “;making a considerable contribution to the economy.”; (The resolution does not mention that such activity violates federal law. Its author should notify authorities about the basis for the statement.)

Cockfighting is a felony in 39 states—and Hawaii's law, where it is a misdemeanor, is the third weakest. If legislators want to take action on this subject in next year's session, it should be to toughen the state criminal law, not undermine it.