USARK Alert - HR2920 Amendments to the Lacey Act

http://usark.org/2015-blog/hr-2920/

USARK put out an alert last night asking people to please contact their representatives to oppose HR2920.

If you don't know who your representative is you can look up the info at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ based on your zip code.

IMO the mere fact that this legislation was introduced - as it would write into the US Code and not the Code of Federal Regulations that importation and interstate transport of listed species is prohibited - shows that the USFWS knows it's on very shaky ground in the lawsuit. If it were sure of its position this bill would not be needed.

Wait. So what's considered a "prohibited wildlife species"? And how is this different from what the Lacey Act already says? Sorry, I'm getting lost in the legalese.

Currently I believe the ban on interstate transportation was an overreach by the Lacey Act; it wasn't something written into the original concept. This would amend that into it, making any further additions to the Lacey Act automatically prohibited from interstate trade. They don't want to have to deal with the whole court case with USARK over and over again. This way it's only a one stop shop for rights inhibition...

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Originally Posted by Penultimate

Wait. So what's considered a "prohibited wildlife species"? And how is this different from what the Lacey Act already says? Sorry, I'm getting lost in the legalese.

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Any injurious wildlife species already on the Lacey Act. For example, this includes the nine listed constrictor snakes, as well as walking catfish, brown tree snakes, raccoon dogs, and more.
They also seek to add chimpanzees as prohibited wildlife - a clear cut sign this is animal rights based legislation.


In addition to getting a ban on interstate transport written out, this will also ban exportation. Bad news for anyone relying on international sales.

Ok. Let me see if I have this right. The Lacey Act wasn't originally meant to ban transportation. Writing this in there would make it say that it is meant to ban transportation. Any species already on the act is prohibited. Did I get it?

Latest update from USARK's FB page;

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UPDATE: HR 2920 is a reintroduction of the "Captive Primate Safety Act." The bill seeks to add all non-human primates as "prohibited wildlife species" under Chapter 53 of the Lacey Act. This bill will add primates to the current list of "prohibited wildlife species": lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such a species.It is unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce, any live animal of any prohibited wildlife species.
You can view the text at http://goo.gl/9bhnLo.
Primates include 72 genera. This includes lemurs, marmosets, bushbabies, tamarins, all monkeys, etc

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It looks like this proposed change isn't geared toward the reptile community, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be wary of it.

I want a Savannah cat one day. :(

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Originally Posted by Marrissa

I want a Savannah cat one day. :(

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I would have to look at the real law, but judging by Daigga's quote up there, I don't see serval as being on that list of restricted animals. Mind you I don't doubt they will end up on the list. Beautiful cats, but those T2 babies like I like are expeeensiiive