PROTECT LAWFUL GAMEFOWL BREEDERS

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Dear [Your Elected Official],

I am writing as a constituent to ask that you OPPOSE the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act - S.1454/H.R.3946
S.1454/H.R.3946 seeks to amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) claiming to enhance federal enforcement against animal fighting. While presented as a tool to crack down on criminal activity, the bill goes too far—placing lawful animal owners, breeders, and rural citizens at risk of profiling, harassment, and property seizure without proper due process.
• S.1454/H.R.3946 contains overly broad language and defines "rooster" as any male bird over six months old, and casts a wide net over all game fowl breeders. Any breeder of traditional or heritage breeds can be wrongly labeled as an animal fighter.
• S.1454/H.R.3946 imposes a presumption of guilt: Assumes intent to fight animals based on species owned—setting a dangerous precedent of guilt by association for pit bull owners, game fowl breeders, and rural animal keepers.
• S.1454/H.R.3946 urges profiling based on animal ownership -- this bill opens the door to profiling citizens based on the type of animal they own. Law-abiding individuals who own certain breeds of dogs or species of birds may be automatically suspected of illegal activity, regardless of their conduct.
•S.1454/H.R.3946 grants expanded authority to seize animals, property, and equipment from citizens based solely on suspicion, without requiring a conviction -- violating due process. 
•S.1454/H.R.3946 encroaches on states' rights by inserting federal enforcement into lawful animal-related activities protected under state law.
• S.1454/H.R.3946 harms responsible breeders and animal owners who may be discouraged or forced to shut down due to fear of harassment, investigation, or unjust seizure.
S.1454/H.R.3946 punishes innocent citizens under the guise of targeting criminals impacting game fowl breeders preserving heritage bloodlines, dog breeders and owners, especially historically targeted breeds, rural farmers and ranchers, livestock and poultry exhibitors and enthusiasts, pet owners, nationwide. 
I strongly urge you to oppose S.1454/H.R.3946 as it threatens the rights of lawful animal owners and breeders across America, expanding government overreach without sufficient legal safeguards.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Summary

Protect Lawful Gamefowl Breeders from Unjust Profiling Stop the FIGHT Act S.1454/H.R.3946   The FIGHT Act (Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking Act) is once again being promoted as legislation to combat illegal animal fighting. While everyone agrees that organized animal fighting should be prosecuted under existing law, this bill reaches far beyond those who commit criminal acts. Across the country, lawful gamefowl breeders are increasingly being treated as suspects simply because they raise and sell gamefowl. Many of these breeders have spent decades developing bloodlines for legal domestic and international markets. They operate legitimate businesses, comply with federal and state regulations, and export birds to countries where gamefowl are lawfully bred for exhibition, breeding, cultural purposes, and other legal activities. A breeder cannot control what another individual chooses to do with a bird after it has been legally purchased, particularly once that bird leaves the United States. Holding breeders responsible for the independent actions of buyers is both unreasonable and dangerous. By that standard, countless lawful industries could be held liable for the misuse of products they legally sell. The FIGHT Act (S.1454/H.R.3946) also expands federal authority in ways that increase the risk of profiling lawful breeders based solely on the type of birds they raise rather than evidence of criminal conduct. This creates a chilling effect on legitimate agriculture, breeding, and commerce while diverting valuable law enforcement resources away from actual criminal enterprises. The United States already has strong federal and state laws prohibiting animal fighting. The problem is not a lack of laws. The problem is ensuring existing laws are properly enforced against those who actually violate them. Congress should focus on prosecuting criminals, not creating new opportunities for lawful breeders to be investigated, harassed, or presumed guilty because of the animals they legally own and raise. Please contact your Members of Congress today and respectfully urge them to oppose the FIGHT Act. Protect due process, lawful animal ownership, and legitimate agricultural businesses while ensuring existing animal fighting laws are enforced against actual offenders.

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