Cockfight: Feathers Fly Between NYC Students & City Hall

NEW YORK – Students here vowed on Wednesday they would restrict cockfighting competitions to recess as they battled a ban on cockfighting in schools.

Speaking at a city council hearing where council members introduced a bill aimed at overriding a ban on cockfighting enforced under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, students and their parents spoke out against the unusually stringent anti-cockfighting policy.

"I feel mature enough to be able to control my cock in class," said LaGuardia High School student James Dolby, 16. "This is about students' safety, because, especially in New York City, many students feel safer with their cocks in hand."

Dissent over the ban in New York escalated recently when Bloomberg introduced poultry scanners and random checks at some of the city's 1,408 public high schools. The new scanners used to protect the city's 1.1 million students had led to the confiscation of more than 3,000 roosters and 36 chicken-hawks.

Detroit and Philadelphia also bar cockfighting from schools while Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Walla Walla and Las Vegas allow them in schools, but take a percentage of all gambling.

During the hearing, Bloomberg's representatives said the policy dated back to a 1912 ban on "competitive fowl" and was needed to prevent students from using their cocks without cause or as weapons.

But city council members said crime and disruptive behavior would occur regardless of the ban. "We can agree this needs regulation - but that doesn't mean we take away their cocks. To say nothing of self defense - Do you want your child to be the only one without a cock?" asked council member Linda Zawaar.

Sandy, a mother of three, said her kids needed cockfightging so she could "make up for the lack of a man in the house, for the money - and eventually for the food. It's better than working at KFC."

"This is a big city, it's tough and a whole lot of things go on," said her son Maurice A.K.A. "Cock Masta Killa", 13. Asked if he had played with his cock during class, he answered: "Yes, but sometimes it's just cause it gets too excited."

Foghorn Leghorn was unavailavble for comment.