Virginia Alert

SB 477 Dangerous wild animals.
Introduced by: L. Louise Lucas

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Dangerous wild animals. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to privately possess, sell, transfer, or breed dangerous wild animals The bill would grandfather in the ownership of any existing lawful exotic animals; however, the owner of such animals is required to meet certain conditions in order to maintain possession of the exotic animals. The bill limits the possession of dangerous wild animals to facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and bona fide sanctuaries. The legislation describes the procedures to be followed in the seizure and care of dangerous wild animals.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp...=bil&val=sb477

So how do we kill it?

This is what the bill says:

Quote:

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1) Family Canidae: red wolves (Canis rufus) and gray wolves (Canis lupus), including wolf-dog hybrids.

(2) Family Felidae: lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), leopards (Panthera pardus), clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), snow leopards (Panthera uncia), jaguars (Panthera onca), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), cougars/pumas/mountain lions (Puma concolor), including hybrids thereof.

(3) Family Ursidae: all species of bears.

(4) Family Hyaenidae: all species of hyena and aardwolf.

b. Order Primates: all species excluding humans.

c.Order Proboscidea: all species of elephants.

2. Class Reptilia.

a. Order Crocodylia: all species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials.

b. Order Squamata.

(1) Family Atractaspididae: all species, such as mole vipers.

(2) Family Boidae: anacondas (Genus Eunectes), boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), Burmese pythons (Python molurus), reticulated pythons (Python reticulatus), amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina), scrub pythons (Morelia kinghorni), Northern African pythons (Python sebae), Southern African pythons (Python natalensis).

(3) Family Colubridae: boomslangs (Dispholidus typus), twig snakes (genus Thelotornis).

(4) Family Elapidae: all species, such as cobras, mambas, and coral snakes.

(5) Family Hydrophiidae: all species, such as sea snakes.

(6) Family Viperidae: all species, such as rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and puff adders.

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According to 4-B it will still be legal to keep humans as pets in VA. :rolleyes:

This is what disturbs me most about this proposal:

Quote:

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A. Law-enforcement officers shall, upon probable cause, seize any or all dangerous wild animals possessed in violation of this article.

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I think our founding fathers would be rolling in their grave if they knew how far our government goes to take the private property of citizens.

Also, since this covers all classes of leopards, does that mean a Bengal Cat (hybrid of an Asian Leopard and a domestic cat) fall within the ban? This is very poorly written and I hope it never gets out of committee.

These are the people we need to call, email and write!

via VA Reptile Rescue, Inc.
from Wm Taylor, on the USARK Facebook page (THANK YOU!):

Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R) - Senate District 24 district24@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7524
Senator John C. Watkins (R) - Senate District 10 district10@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7510
Phillip P. Puckett (D) - Senate District 38 (804) 698-7538 district38@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. (R) - Senate District 15 (804) 698-7515 district15@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Harry B. Blevins (R) - Senate District 14 (804) 698-7514 district14@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R) - Senate District 26 (804) 698-7526 district26@senate.virginia.gov
Senator A. Donald McEachin (D) - Senate District 9 (804) 698-7509 district09@senate.virginia.gov
Senator J. Chapman Petersen (D) - Senate District 34 (804) 698-7534 district34@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Ralph S. Northam (D) - Senate District 6 (804) 698-7506 district06@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Richard H. Stuart (R) - Senate District 28 (804) 698-7528 district28@senate.virginia.gov
Senator David W. Marsden (D) - Senate District 37 (804) 698-7537 district37@senate.virginia.gov
Senator William M. Stanley, Jr. (R) - Senate District 20 (804) 698-7520 district20@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Richard H. Black (R) - Senate District 13 (804) 698-7513 district13@senate.virginia.gov
Senator John C. Miller (D) - Senate District 1 (804) 698-7501 district01@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D) - Senate District 30 (804) 698-7530 district30@senate.virginia.gov

Please don't let this state ban slip through just 'cause we're distracted with the federal ban!

Here are all the emails of the senators on the committee. Just copy and paste this into an email and type a message telling them to vote NO on SB 477.

district30@senate.virginia.gov,
district01@senate.virginia.gov,
district13@senate.virginia.gov,
district20@senate.virginia.gov,
district37@senate.virginia.gov,
district28@senate.virginia.gov,
district06@senate.virginia.gov,
district34@senate.virginia.gov,
district09@senate.virginia.gov,
district26@senate.virginia.gov,
district14@senate.virginia.gov,
district15@senate.virginia.gov,
district38@senate.virginia.gov,
district10@senate.virginia.gov,
district24@senate.virginia.gov