A proposed ban on rodeo events in Los Angeles has been in the works for over a year. When it happens, the vote is destined to be a moment of high drama at city hall.
Craig Fiegener spoke with councilmember Bob Blumenfield about why he is backing the ban, and Ryan Seddon, with the Professional Bull Riders, who says Blumenfield has it all wrong.
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Councilmember Blumenfield said the bulls buck and perform because they are "essentially being tortured" with electric prods and sharpened spurs.
Seddon, says, as per the PBR rule book, the spurs worn on the Cowboy's boots are dull, "So, it does provide some friction for the cowboy, but they're not poking into the bull," and they do not use shock sticks.
He said the proposed ordinance will not affect PBR because they don't use the tools that councilmember Blumenfield calls 'torture devices', but he is concerned that the ban "creates a slippery slope."
Within the next few weeks, Los Angeles council members are expected to vote on what could spell the end of rodeos within the city limits, but Seddon said there is a distinct difference between rodeos and bull riding events.
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