Help save our hobby!

[KORBIN5895]

I still an Illini at heart!!

[EasternGirl]

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Nothing but Corn Fields.

Here's a copy of the letter i just sent to him in response to his.

Dear Senator Durbin:

I thank you for your responses. I was wondering what your personal feeling on the Python Ban are? I agree there is a problem in Florida with Burmese Pythons killing off natural wildlife. So why not pass law requiring micro chipping baby Burmese, Anacondas, Rock Pythons, Scrubs and Reticulated Pythons. Pass a law make people wanting this snake to take a class and show they can be a responsible owner. Pass a law requiring a licenses to buy one and for people to show proof before Breeders are aloud to sell them to people. The problem is this snakes sell for a $100.00 up and any fool can buy one. Why punish the 90% of responsible owner, because of the few idiots who are irresponsible owner. Instead of jumping to Banning why not try to fix the problem first before taking these most drastic majors?

I have a Special Needs Child so i go to work and come home. I spend the rest of my time taking care of my son and my snakes. I don't get to do much at all. When i have a hard day i go spend some time handling my snakes and cleaning cages. For me this a stress reviler and real help with my depression. If this law is passed i become a criminal for owning a five foot male Yellow Anaconda. I keep all my snakes in locked cages they have everything they could ever need. I am a very responsible owner. So please don't make me and the other 90% of responsible owner criminals.

Thank you for your time. Charles Suit

I really like this letter...and it addresses my concern..as I was going to post...that I certainly do not want to see a ban on pythons because it is ridiculous to generalize and claim that because there are irresponsible snake owners, that all large snake owners are therefore irresponsible. But I was wondering if anything can be done to restrict the purchasing of these snakes to people who are serious and responsible hobbyists. I see so many morons who know nothing about snakes purchasing them just because it's "cool" to have a big snake...which ends of being disastrous for the snake and the owner. I for one would be concerned if one of these irresponsible owners lived next door to me. I am sure you know exactly what I am saying here...

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by EasternGirl

I really like this letter...and it addresses my concern..as I was going to post...that I certainly do not want to see a ban on pythons because it is ridiculous to generalize and claim that because there are irresponsible snake owners, that all large snake owners are therefore irresponsible. But I was wondering if anything can be done to restrict the purchasing of these snakes to people who are serious and responsible hobbyists. I see so many morons who know nothing about snakes purchasing them just because it's "cool" to have a big snake...which ends of being disastrous for the snake and the owner. I for one would be concerned if one of these irresponsible owners lived next door to me. I am sure you know exactly what I am saying here...

I agree something needs to be done about how easy it is for just any idiot to get one. What gets me is they are going from doing nothing at all to Banning them. At least first try to fix the problem before a flat out Ban of the Big Nine.

[EasternGirl]

Exactly...here in Delaware, it is illegal to own any big snakes specifically because of this problem. Which I find ridiculous...yet, the stores still sell them and I still see idiots going in to buy them...perpetuating the problem they were trying to solve in the first place. What they should have done instead of banning them, was restrict the selling and owning of them to responsible owners. Make the laws concerning owning these snakes take the responsibility of ownership into account. I like the idea of people having to take a class...offer some sort of proof that they know what they are doing with a large snake.

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by EasternGirl

Exactly...here in Delaware, it is illegal to own any big snakes specifically because of this problem. Which I find ridiculous...yet, the stores still sell them and I still see idiots going in to buy them...perpetuating the problem they were trying to solve in the first place. What they should have done instead of banning them, was restrict the selling and owning of them to responsible owners. Make the laws concerning owning these snakes take the responsibility of ownership into account. I like the idea of people having to take a class...offer some sort of proof that they know what they are doing with a large snake.

I even support having to register them and seller asking for proof that they have. Also fines for selling to unregistered people. If people had to pay to register them or pay to get a license to own them. It would help keep a lot of idiots from owning any of the big nine.

[kernel]

Anyone notice that Kyle D. from Oklahoma City, OK keeps signing over and over again?

[kernel]

Check out the excellent comment from Tracy Barker!



Tracy B. from Boerne, TX writes:This is the wrong rule:

There are an increasing number of women who are doing this as a hobby and or business, which enables them to have a way to enter the field of science getting into teaching, research, academics, business or simply be able to spend more time with at home with their children.

What about this generation’s code words “Biodiversity” and “Green Planet?” How will that happen with no animals?? Conservation of species through the maintenance of captive populations is increasingly important by the day. Where are future keepers with the ability and experience to carry out the work going to come from?

100 million dollar threshold? FedEx, Delta Air Cargo, UPS, Home Depot, hotels, restaurants, airline travel, venues, and that is only the service industry part, not animals or equipment part. The contributions made by reptile keepers and breeders are significant and important, and any regulation that will reduce that contribution will have rippling effects throughout the entire economy and the middle working class. Instead of contributing to the economy, these regulations will be yet another venue to secure tax payer dollars and spend money on endless “projects” that will employ a handful of agency employees.

Do Americans really want their kids to have no exposure to animals except digital images on the TV computer or print media? Biology teachers should be absolutely horrified at the prospect of bans like this that will ultimately lead to fewer kids getting into science related fields.

Imagine the life trajectory of many snake keepers and breeders: graduate high school; then maybe graduate college, even graduate school; spend almost every day building an American small business; put all heart, soul, energy, and every dollar into this American small business. As is the nature of small business, some of these businesses fail for legitimate business reasons, whether it be through economics, bad luck, or maybe even unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the business owner. Now, however, businesses that have been functioning for decades could be forced out of business without valid reason by regulation that is based on agenda, controversial ethics, politics, and poor science. How can Americans possibly be encouraged to start small businesses knowing that at any time special interest groups and excessive regulation can wipe out a lifetime of work?

If the American public is to be banned from maintaining captive colonies of hundreds of species of reptiles, what plans then exist to support wildlife conservation by viable ancillary captive populations in the United States or anywhere in the world. It can rightly be described as bizarre that the United States appears on course to become nationalistic in terms of biodiversity. Do FWS, USGS, and various NGO’s believe that citizens should be divested of nonnative animals on the national level, and from native animals at the state level? Do they think that American zoos or will they regulate zoos out of existence more gradually? These actions have a prejudicial taint. Are the plans of FWS so influenced by the environmental and animal-rights movements that it will work to see the United States divest itself from working with all nonnative animals. We state that such policy would be inconsistent with how America works and with centuries old traditions of Americans working to conserve the animal life of the entire planet.

[Strutter769]

What she said!

Very positive projection of us and our hobby!

[beardeds4life]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ x2

[BarelyBreathing]

Yes! Very well said!

[millertime89]

fantastic response from Tracy!