Advocates of legal cockfighting on Guam, which is due to be banned by federal law later this year, are searching for answers. That provision was tucked into to the massive U.S. farm bill recently signed by President Trump and would ban cockfighting in all the U.S. territories where it continues to be practiced. Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states.
In a press release, freshman Senator Jose "Pedo" Terlaje announced that he has written to freshman Washington Delegate Michael San Nicolas, asking for an amendment to the Organic Act to allow the duly elected legislature to determine the legality of cockfighting on Guam, considering its cultural significance and importance to the Chamorro people after the passage of a "substantive resolution" by the Guam legislature to that effect.
“While we both have strong familial and personal roots in Guam's cockfighting community,” Sen.Terlaje said, “what disturbs me most is the knowledge that decisions solely impacting the insular territories can be made without the active input of the territories themselves.”
Terlaje said he will introduce the resolution requesting that San Nicolas author, introduce, and pass an amendment to allow cockfighting to continue if the legislature so chooses.
“I know that some people won't get it. I understand that this amendment will be an uphill battle for you but clearly,” Terlaje lamented, “we must try something--and you are our voice in Congress.”