I’m not going to discuss why is cockfighting or “illegal gambling” a crime. I will mention, however, that “animal welfare” laws was a Nazi innovation [video] which allowed them to add more voters to their initially feeble base. Since then, many “advocates” keep proclaiming that they love animals more than people. Because of this cognitive dissonance, the latest Bucharest infographic has to identify the areas where you are likely to be attacked and killed by dogs, as crime in general is quite low (metrop).
Then again, cockfighting derbies can be quite brutal: Philippines, sabong, Guam, Candelaria
It’s tough to distinguish this “princess” – Tumblr, for instance, has over 30 such blogs (tumb-pr) – so here’s a summary. (ore-ro)
- The government alleges that the Walkers' horse ranch, on a flat patch of irrigation circles about two miles south of Irrigon, is subject to federal forfeiture because it was used in a criminal enterprise. The ranch's dwellings were valued at $170,360 in 2011, according to public records.
- John Walker, 67, served as a sergeant in the Myrtle Point Police Department before going to work on Aug. 1, 1998, with the Coos County Sheriff's Office. He left that job in June 30, 2003, according to the county's Department of Human Resources. It's unclear what kind of work Walker might have performed in the last 10 years.
- Walker in 2007 married the former Irina Kreuger, the middle of five daughters born to King Michael I and Queen Anne of Romania. A published account says the Walkers married in the Heart of Reno Chapel, in Reno, Nev.
- Princess Irina, 60, is fifth in line to the throne, following her older sisters, Margareta and Elena, and Elena's two children, Nicholas and Elisabeta Karina. She was born and raised in Switzerland and moved to Oregon in 1983.
- Irina Walker has never been a visible member of the royal family, which owns four castles in Romania. She has visited the European nation only a handful of times, said historian Filip-Lucian Iorga. Her biography is largely unknown to the Romanian public, he said. The royal family is popular, but largely uninvolved in local politics.
- In 1944, King Michael led a coup against a pro-Nazi government. His family lived in exile for more than four decades after the country fell under communism after World War II. The king was forced to abdicate in 1947 by communists threatening to kill more than 1,000 young Romanian prisoners. The king and queen have lived modestly in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, maintaining a chicken farm and a carpenter's shop.
The video was posted by sealightfilms, Vince Mart, ViralMedia24 and was even discussed by The Young Turks. What I like about it is that it’s such an excellent metaphor for state violence. Allow me to explain. , I no longer feel like expanding upon that.
They face 5 yrs in prsion and a fine of $250,000 if convicted and she pleaded not guilty (foxn-ro).
- Princess Irina Walker, daughter of the last king of Romania, has pleaded not guilty to operating a cockfighting business with her husband at their Oregon ranch.
- She entered the plea at a hearing on Friday.
- Government prosecutors warned that Walker is a flight risk because she was born in Switzerland and could be granted asylum in that country.
- Judge John V. Acosta ordered her to surrender her passport and told her not to leave her home county, except to go to nearby Hermiston for groceries and doctor appointments.
- A total of 18 people have been charged in the case.
- Walker's daughter, Angelica Kreuger, says her mother loves animals and would never watch a chicken die in a fight.
- The king said in a statement that he had learned of his daughter's arrest with "profound sadness." "His Majesty and the entire royal family hope that the American justice system and the courts of the state of Oregon will solve this case in the fairest and quickest way possible," the statement said.
To conclude (just so that some of the visiting dawgs don’t start bitchin’): this is a sad news item, but I can’t help wondering if banning cockfighting or “illegal gambling” is more of an evidence of violence (on the part of the State) rather than on the part of those indicted.
LE: In some cases, such as Robert Davis, animal cruelty might be a harbinger of mental problems and need of treatment. Even then, such people belong in a mental institution, rather than jail, much like those abusing drugs.
Sources / More info: nbc-ro, cnn-ro, rep-ro, ore-ro, metrop-crime, metrop-sectoare, tumb-pr, foxn-ro
LE: After TYT (link above), Gaben comments the story for the Romanian market :)