African rock python supposedly strangled two boys, age 5 and 7, fallout for BPs?

As this relates to Ball Pythons directly:
There are groups already requesting bans on all pythons and other groups asking for bans on all exotics.

Totally losing sight of the reality that as much of a tragedy as this is, statistically a child is more likely to die from a pool, a lake, a river, an angry/depressed or mentally ill parent, a car and lightning strikes than a snake in this country, these people play on emotions to push agendas they have had long before any thing like this ever occurred. This is why I support even those things I have no interest in or even disagree with provided you are being responsible and doing no harm, unpopular groups are easy targets for these campaigns.

I do not expect these groups to be successful on the federal level or even very influential on the provincial level but, it is going to shut down breeders in some municipalities and affect a great many hobbyists.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reinz

Interesting post Slitherous, almost identical to a current gun owner. :)

I believe the key word here is Ignorance.

---

Well, it just so happens I am a gun owner, another avocation requiring a lack of ignorance! The public image of reptiles and those that keep them hasn't really matured much in decades, despite the new-found environmental awareness in the world. People are still superstitious, scittish, nonsensical animals who generally react out of fear, not out of knowledge.

S

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slitherous

Well, it just so happens I am a gun owner, another avocation requiring a lack of ignorance! The public image of reptiles and those that keep them hasn't really matured much in decades, despite the new-found environmental awareness in the world. People are still superstitious, scittish, nonsensical animals who generally react out of fear, not out of knowledge.

S

---

I have guns [scary black ones!], Dobermanns, snakes and have had a Pit in the past.

It's a wonder I haven't been locked up for being a public menace.

/s

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slitherous

Well, it just so happens I am a gun owner, another avocation requiring a lack of ignorance! The public image of reptiles and those that keep them hasn't really matured much in decades, despite the new-found environmental awareness in the world. People are still superstitious, scittish, nonsensical animals who generally react out of fear, not out of knowledge.

S

---

Right there with you on that one Slitherous! Fighting the same battle on that front as well! Not going to have my freedoms taken without a fight! :salute:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Quickone4u

Right there with you on that one Slitherous! Fighting the same battle on that front as well! Not going to have my freedoms taken without a fight! :salute:

---

My main issue is people who react out of ignorance, and both issues have the clueless minority out there in front shaking their fist and screaming while not really knowing anything about what they are screaming about. I have also found that the ignorant WANT to stay that way.......I've always said "people are cows....one goes moo and they all moo"! I once had the chance to talk to an ex WWII German soldier, and he asked me once if I thought what happened in Germany in the 20's & 30's could ever happen here, and I answered "probably not", (I was young 'n dumb then); he corrected me sternly saying "if you don't think the same couldn't happen here you're WRONG, (while pointing his finger at my nose). Your freedoms CAN be taken away, and it can be done in such a way that you will actually agree with it...that's what happened to us". You're right, we must fight for our freedoms!

S

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slitherous

My main issue is people who react out of ignorance, and both issues have the clueless minority out there in front shaking their fist and screaming while not really knowing anything about what they are screaming about. I have also found that the ignorant WANT to stay that way.......I've always said "people are cows....one goes moo and they all moo"! I once had the chance to talk to an ex WWII German soldier, and he asked me once if I thought what happened in Germany in the 20's & 30's could ever happen here, and I answered "probably not", (I was young 'n dumb then); he corrected me sternly saying "if you don't think the same couldn't happen here you're WRONG, (while pointing his finger at my nose). Your freedoms CAN be taken away, and it can be done in such a way that you will actually agree with it...that's what happened to us". You're right, we must fight for our freedoms!

S

---

Hit the nail on the head! It's been going on for years now. People slowly trying to erode more and more of our freedoms for so many ridiculous reasons namely both of these issues being "our safety" pssh! Keep up the good fight!

It's far easier for politicians to introduce blanket legislation in the time of a tragedy so they are seen as doing "something" about the "problem". This is purely for votes, and not because they seek to understand the issue. Instead of holding individuals accountable, they attack the object or the animal because if they look at the unbiased, real CDC statistics...20+ people are killed every year by dogs (mostly kids and the elderly), 200+ people are killed by domesticated farm animals, 80000+ people are killed in alcohol related incidents, and you're 10 times more likely to be killed by your toaster (or other small electrical appliance)...they'll see it as it truly is: a simple, horrific tragedy that is extremely rare in our hobby. Only one other person has been killed in the U.S. by an African Rock python in the last 15-20 years. Let's not forget the USFWS has even proved that constricting snakes cannot live anywhere north of Florida in their own study.

All this information is fine and dandy, but the politicians don't look at it. And with the introduction of legislation that would allow the USFWS to add ANY species to Lacey without due process, we can probably kiss our hobby goodbye as we know it. The only way we can attempt to overcome these hurdles is by action. Talking about it in these forums is great, but no one hears us. We need to take our views to our Congressional Representative and support organizations like USARK that do speak for us. Moreover, we need to educate.

So if you're wondering what you can do, head over to the USARK website and follow the steps to oppose Categorical Exclusion AND the recent push to add Boas, Reticulated Pythons, and others to Lacey. Without the sum of our individual efforts, we'll be shot down:

http://usark.org/action-alert/usfws-...l-exclusion-2/

http://usark.org/press-releases/acti...-as-injurious/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slitherous

Well, it just so happens I am a gun owner, another avocation requiring a lack of ignorance! The public image of reptiles and those that keep them hasn't really matured much in decades, despite the new-found environmental awareness in the world. People are still superstitious, scittish, nonsensical animals who generally react out of fear, not out of knowledge.

S

---

You think it is bad being a gun owner? Try owning a gun store in the glorious state of Commiefornia.... The fiery hoops we jump thru, the endless questions from customers about new laws that will surely end our 2nd amendment rights as we know it. I get hit on 2 sides, I'm a gun nut who MUST be some tattood freak to own these evil nasty child eating snakes as well.

This is a tragedy any way you look at it, as was Sandy Hook, but in the end... Nothing was done on a federal level. I suspect we will see the same in this case.