It's mostly rumors and propaganda spread about by those groups rallying to decriminalize cockfighting. It's really nothing more. By their view, they've got a strong following. Of course. If you hang out with people of the same opinions as yourself, and don't talk to (or listen to) those who oppose your views, then based on your experience your got a great chance of swaying the vote in your favor. In reality it's a lot of small, but talkative groups, shouting among themselves and still trying to follow the past ways.
It's a shame people can't get with the times. I recognize cockfighting as having a rightful and important place in the history of the domestic fowl, and as being the most important factor in the creation of many of the ancient breeds that fanciers still enjoy today, but history is where the bloodsport (all bloodsport) belongs. No doubt there is something to admire about the spirit of a gamefowl, and I do love the sight of a rooster with his hackles flared like a lion, but to intentionally allow these birds to injure and kill each other is a waste of good fowl, and while the old types of fighting (naked heel) may have at least had the advantage of producing some of the strongest and most vigorous fowls in the world, the forms of fighting popular in modern times - fighting in a gaff or knife - is just bloodshed for bloodshed's sake. That type of fight relies so heavily on luck and the use of artificial spurs that it cannot even improve the breeds in any sense of strength or health.
