Amazon sued by HSUS

[Guest guest]

http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/animal_fighting_the_final_round/recent_activi

ties/amazon_cockfighting_magazines.html

 

By Ariana Huemer

 

Cockfighting is illegal in all but two states, and the vast majority of

Americans staunchly oppose it. And yet Amazon.com, Inc. refuses to stop

selling two publications devoted to the cruel blood " sport " : The Gamecock

and The Feathered Warrior. After repeatedly warning Amazon that it is

violating federal law, The HSUS intends to take the online retail giant to

court.

 

Flouting Federal Law

 

The federal Animal Welfare Act strictly prohibits any person from " knowingly

use[ing] the mail service of the U.S. Postal Service or any interstate

instrumentality for purposes of promoting or in any other manner furthering

an animal fighting venture. "

In July 2005, The HSUS asked Amazon to stop selling The Gamecock and The

Feathered Warrior because they are " bursting with advertisements for

fighting birds and cockfighting paraphernalia " and thus are " blatantly

violating federal law. "

 

A full year later, Amazon continues to do a brisk business selling these

criminal magazines. Of the more than 17,000 magazines sold by Amazon, The

Gamecock ranks at number 501 and The Feathered Warrior at 2,016.

 

New Evidence of an Old Problem

 

The January 2006 edition of The Feathered Warrior advertises birds who

" demand respect in the ring, " hormones that encourage " pure aggression "

and

can " prepare your cock for battle, " and knives and weapons such as " Articles

of the Spur " that can be attached to the birds' legs for fighting. The

January 2006 edition of The Gamecock also contains nearly a dozen ads for

knives and other cockfighting weapons, many prominently displayed.

 

The publisher of The Gamecock told HSUS investigators that the magazine had

" no problem " using the magazine to sell fighting birds. Similarly, the

publisher of The Feathered Warrior confirmed that the publication was

willing to advertise fighting birds and cockfighting implements such as

gaffs and knives.

Legal Action Speaks Louder Than Words

 

On July 18, 2006, HSUS lawyers notified Amazon's CEO and its corporate

general counsel that " HSUS intends to commence a civil action against

Amazon.com in the District of Columbia based on Amazon.com's sale of two

magazines-The Gamecock and The Feathered Warrior-that promote and further

cockfighting activities in violation of federal law. "

 

The legal notice informed Amazon that " unless these magazine are removed

immediately, The HSUS will have no choice but to initiate legal action "

under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits

corporations from selling goods in the District in any manner that is

contrary to a " requirement of federal law. "

 

Closing the Book on Cockfighting

 

It is difficult to understand why Amazon, with more than $8 billion in

annual sales, insists on selling cockfighting magazines in violation of

federal law. As a national retailer, Amazon needs to act responsibly and

stop promoting animal cruelty and peddling illegal materials.

 

The pending federal Animal Fighting Prohibition Act, S. 382 and H.R. 817,

which enjoys broad bipartisan support, would elevate animal fighting-related

interstate trafficking from a misdemeanor to a felony. Amazon would do well

to recognize that public sentiment is against animal fighting and those who

profit from it.

 

With luck, the impending HSUS lawsuit will help usher in this reform.

 

Ariana Huemer is the animal cruelty caseworker for The Humane Society of the

United States.

 

 

 

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