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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief A bill to regulate the sport of mixed martial arts has gotten through it's first obstacle today, as multiple outlets have reported that the state assembly's Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports has passed bill 2009-B with a 14-6 vote.
The Committee heard from advocates on both sides of the bill, including the sport's most vocal detractor, Assemblyman Bob Reilly who tried to illustrate his beliefs with a lengthy presentation today. The vote still passed with a majority ruling.
The next step in the process is for New York state Codes Committee to look at the legal issues brought up in the bill and then it will move to the assembly floor for a final vote.
From all reports, the bill has not gotten this far to date after the sport was banned in 1997.
Penick's Analysis: This is great news and a big first step in getting the fans in the state of New York live mixed martial arts action. It's encouraging to see that Reilly's uninformed rhetoric on the sport isn't being taken at face value by all on this committee for this vote. We can only hope that enough of the members of assembly will get in line with this. This is a good first step, though.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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