In Colombia, there are written records of at least six bullfights in the first half of the 16th century. At the time of colonization, bullfights were organized to celebrate the arrival of the crown and a royal audience. In the first half of the 16th century, municipal and village councils were responsible for organizing and promoting bullfights. Council members selected city dwellers to sponsor the construction of bullring with balconies in the Plaza Mayor. At that time, there were no permanent stages of bullfighting. Wooden balconies should provide safety and comfort to the rich. The craftsmen were commissioned to build an arena in the main square or “Plaza Principal” and erect a wooden fence to protect the public. However, this enclosure was not a guarantee of safety, as it happened that cattle passed over the fence and frightened people. The celebration ended in the night with the spectacle of bull burned or “espectaculo del toro encandelillado”. At this event, the horns of a bull had to be wrapped in rags soaked in oil that were set on fire.
The pain would upset the animal that pursued the stupid and drunk spectators who dared to enter the ring (BERTRAND, Annie “La fiesta de los toros en Colombia-siglos XVI-XIX*”, Paris, (1999), available from www.bdigital.unal.edu.co/1328/8/06CAPI05.pdf). In 1951,[110] bullfighting in France was legalized by § 7 of Article 521-1 of the French Penal Code in areas where there is an “uninterrupted local tradition”. [111] This exception applies, among others, to Nîmes, Arles, Alès, Bayonne, Carcassonne and Fréjus. [110] In 2011, the French Ministry of Culture added Corrida to the France`s “intangible heritage” list, but tacitly removed it from its website after much controversy. Animal rights advocates have filed a lawsuit to ensure that it is completely removed from the list of monuments and therefore does not receive any additional legal protection; The Paris Administrative Court of Appeal ruled in his favour in June 2015. [112] In another case, the Constitutional Council ruled on September 21, 2012, that the bullfight did not violate the French Constitution. [113] However, the argument of the economic weight of agriculture and livestock in relation to animal control is not relevant to Ms. Ruiz. “The debate right now is a legal debate,” the lawyer explained. “Judges are questioning whether killing animals for entertainment is compatible with our Constitution. The Court held that Ley had ignored the principle of legality in 1774 and that this law had reproduced essential content that had previously been considered unconstitutional.
Although the Court clearly considered these exceptions unconstitutional, it postponed the implications of this decision and called on Congress to legislate on the issue within two years, considering it Congress` duty to legislate on the legal status of bullfighting. The implementation of this decision will be maintained if Congress does not take action on this matter within this period. The Bulletpoint Bullfight warns that bullfighting is “not for the grumpy” and advises viewers to “prepare for blood.” The guide describes prolonged and heavy bleeding caused by manufacturers of spears mounted on horses, the loading of an armored horse blindfolded that is “sometimes doped and unaware of the proximity of the bull”, the placement of spiny arrows by banderilleros and the deadly sword blow of the matador. The guide points out that these procedures are an integral part of bullfighting and that death rarely occurs instantly. The guide further warns bullfight participants: “Be prepared to observe various unsuccessful attempts to kill the animal before it lies down.” [55] A Television station in Costa Rica stopped broadcasting bullfights in January 2008 because it feared they would be too violent for minors. [82] [Magazine Failure] The world`s largest arenas no longer celebrate bullfighting. Mexico City`s Monumental Plaza de Toros has closed its doors until further notice. On June 10, a court declared a total ban on bullfighting shows in the Mexican capital. The request came from the justicia Justa association, based on an article in Mexico City`s local constitution, which guarantees the “right to a healthy environment” for animals. Jonathan Bass, one of the judges who ruled in favour of banning bullfighting in the decision, stressed: “Society demands that the physical and mental integrity of all animals, including bulls, be respected.” The resistance of Spanish political parties to bullfighting is generally highest among the left. The PSOE, the main centre-left party, has distanced itself from the bullfight but refuses to ban it, while Spain`s largest left-wing political party, Podemos, has repeatedly called for referendums on the issue and has been disapproved by the practice.
[61] [62] The PP, the largest conservative party, strongly supports bullfighting and has called for large public subsidies. [63] The government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was the first to oppose bullfighting, banning children under the age of 14 from attending events and imposing a six-year ban on live bullfights broadcast on state national television, although the latter measure was overturned after Zapatero`s party defeated in the 2011 elections. [64] Overall, the legal situation of the bullfight is still outstanding. The House of Representatives is preparing the second debate on Bill 271, “which prohibits bullfighting throughout the country.” The public consultation in Bogotá, scheduled for August 13, 2017 to ask if Bogotá residents wanted bullfighting in the city, was suspended due to lack of funding. The national government and the district are currently debating who should cover the costs of the public consultation surrounding the COP with $44 billion. Animal rights activists are organizing protests demanding that Congress ban bullfighting throughout Colombia. It is hoped that the public consultation will take place in March 2018, when the congressional elections will take place, and that Congress will make a decision on the issue before 2019.