what we need is a summit

[snake lab]

What needs to happen is the biggest names in the buisness need to get together and hold a summit. They need to come up with documentation of just how much money lost this ban is going to represent. It needs to be heard by the industry as a whole not from a single usark group that speaks for all. Breeders, hobbyists, pet owners all have to come together and be united. If the govt sees how much tax money they will loose then that will help alot more then everyone sending 20 bucks here and there to an organization that says they can help. Usark though i commend what they are trying to do does not have the money to fight the hsus. This needs to happen soon. Other states are already drafting bills to ban. Its going to get alot worse if the industry doesnt get together to become one voice. We need faces for that voice. We need the big names to be in the fore front.

[wilomn]

What we need are ideas that are feasible, not pipe dreams.

[youbeyouibei]

What we need are ideas that are feasible, not pipe dreams.

x2.

What would a summit accomplish, honestly? It would give HSUS a means by which to demonstrate, picket, protest, etc. and at what costs to them? Negligible, if any, as the expenses would be borne by the summit attendees who had organized the event. Look at the PETA idiots that paint themselves like cats/dogs so they can be locked in cages to demonstrate their points about the "inhumanity" of the pet trade, etc. USARK is the best option currently in place, as they can do this legally and in a venue in which if HSUS appears, they were required to abide by rules and regulations as opposed to a free-for-all idiot fest complete with cans of paint being thrown on fur coats and snakes being let loose in the building in which the summit would be hosted. You can't argue with stupid...and HSUS will take ANY means they can get to air their cause, including disruption a "summit" meeting, whether through legal means or illegal. Add PETA and/or ALF or ELF to that mix and Lord help you. If you don't support USARK, that's entirely your choice. Right now, they are the only viable option that currently exists to protect the remaining animals that have been listed and possibly overturn the ones that have been listed. Just my two cents...

[snake lab]

Ok so donations of 20 bucks to usark is feasable? Lol doubt it. If the people in the industry dont get together to show how much tax money the govt will loose then its not gonna get better. At the end of the day its all about money. The hsus has more money to fight then usark does.

[snake lab]

Usark is trying to come up with 150k to file a lawsuit. The hsus can already afford to tie this thing up till they bankrupt usark. Its just the facts. I do support what usark is trying to do dont get me wrong but your not going to win a money battle with the hsus. Just like your peta analogy. Peta will always be strong because of the amount of money they have from supporters. Its the ugly truth like it or not

[minguss]

I don't have much info on it but PIJAC USARK Tinley Park Summit March 17 & 18

[Giftbearer]

I think a summit would be a very good strategy! Also, I wonder if we could find out whether there are legislators and others with clout who own these types of snakes who could be a part of it. I would bet there are some! The more support from well-respected people we can gather the better. Sometimes power can trump money!

I also think showing how all this regulation would be cost prohibitive is a good way to go because for alot of people that would be the deal-breaker, even if they were on the other side of the issue before.

[snake lab]

Exactly my point. If the big names in the industry come forward to show exactly how much tax dollars would be affected it would get more attention. We are talking alot of money lost and need to put a price tag on it. At the end of the day like anything else its all about money. The reason boas and retics didnt get banned is because of the money they represent.