Do they really strap knives or gaffs to their legs?
Yes. The fight is defined by the style of weapon strapped to the combatants’ legs, such as a “short-knife” fight, a “long-knife” fight, or a “gaff fight.” Cockfighters shave down or cut off the natural spur on the birds’ legs and then strap on the knives before the fight. Why are the knives and gaffs used? They enhance the bloodletting, making the fight more entertaining for people who get a kick out of seeing animals hack one another to death. What’s more, the weapons make the fights end more quickly; many cockfighting fans would be bored if the fights went on for hours. This also allows pit owners to benefit from greater numbers of roosters entered in cockfight events, which often last three days. On “derby” days, over one thousand roosters are killed or maimed at a single location. Has any other state passed an initiative to ban cockfighting? Yes, the citizens of Arizona and Missouri – after seeing that state legislators refused to ban cockfights – gathered signatures to place measu
