Oklahoma, a state that has long grappled with the legacy of cockfighting, is now at the center of a bizarre new legislative debate. Republican State Representative Justin Humphrey has officially introduced House Bill 1326, a measure that would carve out a specific legal exemption for a futuristic twist on an old outlawed tradition: cockfighting against robots.
The Proposal: High-Tech Sparring Under the proposed bill, Section 1692.9 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes would be amended to explicitly permit “cockfighting between a live fowl and a robot”. The legislation carries one critical mandate: the robot must not cause any harm or injury to the live bird.
Supporters of the concept describe it as a “non-lethal” alternative to traditional cockfighting. In this proposed format, mechanical opponents would be equipped to track metrics like hit pressure and accuracy, turning a once-bloody underground activity into a scoreboard-driven “barnyard boxing match” that preserves the heritage of bird breeding without the violence.
The Motivation: Tradition vs. Reform Rep. Humphrey, who represents a rural district, has been a vocal advocate for modernizing Oklahoma’s animal fighting laws, which he views as “out of kilter”. He argues that while possession of dangerous drugs like fentanyl often results in misdemeanors, breeding or fighting birds remains a high-level felony—a disparity he classifies as a failure of criminal justice reform. Humphrey insists he is not trying to revive blood sports, but rather seeking to spark conversation and provide a legal path for poultry enthusiasts to showcase their birds’ natural instincts.
The Backlash: A “Dangerous Precedent” The bill has faced immediate and fierce opposition from animal welfare organizations. Groups like Animal Wellness Action argue that forcing a rooster to spar with a machine is still inherently inhumane, causing the animal unnecessary stress and physical exhaustion. Critics also warn that legalizing “robot fighting” serves as a dangerous loophole, allowing operators to continue training birds for combat and potentially acting as a “gateway” to the revival of illegal, lethal fighting rings.
Current Status House Bill 1326 was officially introduced for the 2025 legislative session and has been referred to the House Rules Committee for further consideration. If passed, the law would take effect on November 1, 2025.
Whether this bill represents a clever compromise for rural culture or a dangerous step backward for animal rights remains to be seen as it moves through the Oklahoma Capitol.
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