A cock is the male of any type of domestic fowl, and cockfighting is a blood sport in which two (or more) cocks are placed in a ring or confined area and encouraged to attack or fight each other. Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—but remains legal in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Although cockfighting is illegal in all states, the potential punishment for the crime varies from state to state. In thirteen states, a first offense charge of cockfighting is a misdemeanor—including Alabama, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. But in California, Louisiana, and New Mexico, second, third, and subsequent offenses may be prosecuted as felonies.

And some states also prohibit possession of cockfighting tools (implements) such as a gaff or slasher; ownership and training of cocks for the purpose of cockfighting; and attending cockfighting events.
Cockfighting laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—and usually in the state’s penal or criminal code.

In Mississippi (MS), cockfighting is considered illegal and is classified as a misdemeanor for a first offense. This aligns with the state's stance on animal cruelty and the prohibition of animal fighting. Mississippi law not only prohibits the act of cockfighting itself but also extends to the possession of cockfighting paraphernalia, the ownership, and training of cocks for fighting purposes, as well as attending events related to cockfighting. The specific regulations and penalties are detailed in the state's penal or criminal code, reflecting a broader national trend towards the criminalization of this activity. Repeat offenses in Mississippi may carry different penalties, but as of the first offense, it is treated as a misdemeanor, which is less severe than a felony charge.