WARNING - BAN ON BOAS & PYTHONS!! - HR6311 Reintroduced as HR669

What are you suppose to put in the comment section?

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Originally Posted by Mischke

What are you suppose to put in the comment section?

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Whatever you think you need to say. That's your choice.

I signed the pention and I hope they don't ban boas and pythons!!
Melissa

Even if this is passed, ball pythons should be exempt from this as their wild numbers are completely in check and closely regulated. The exportation of these animals from countries such as Ghana is helping to prevent the wild populations from becoming too large while at the same time also being a very successful business for the people living there.

Well Dudes, Bring on the flaming.

I'm on the fence on this one. As one who's research is based on invasive species, I can understand the need for legislation to reduce the impact. If the hobby will not regulate itself, it is inevitable that someone else will do it for us. Although I do not agree with HR6311, as it is written, I can respect that there need to be rules. Despite what many of you seem to see as a black/white issue, there are legitimate questions to address here. The days of 'no rules, no regulation' are over. Ask anyone who has had to acquire a permit for their retic. We have the tendency to just yell 'boo-hiss' and pretend regulation is evil and will go away if we keep ignoring it. Instead, we should be looking at this as a chance to influence policy in a constructive way. Yes, we'll all be pissed if they were to shut down our breeding, but would it kill us to regulate the importation of new stock? Would it be a terrible thing to require licensing of large, powerful constrictors? Or of venomous species? Would the hobby die if that happened?

I happen to think of myself as a 'responsible' hobbyist. I believe in sustainability of as many species as we can bestow it upon. And if everyone who owned or bred herps was responsible about it, this would be a non-issue and I'd be waving pitchforks and protesting it full-force. But we're not. For every reputable, sensible individual in this industry, there are several who are not. All I ask is that you actually read the legislation and consider both sides. Don't just send radical hate mail to your congressmen. Be good stewards of your hobby and offer alternatives. The bill talks about grandfathering, so perhaps suggest it be extended to all CB stock already in the US and any subsequent offspring. Fight for better, more efficient management of importation and regulation. All I'm asking is that we use our heads instead of jumping in with emotion here.


~Kat

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Originally Posted by JasonGranger

Even if this is passed, ball pythons should be exempt from this as their wild numbers are completely in check and closely regulated. The exportation of these animals from countries such as Ghana is helping to prevent the wild populations from becoming too large while at the same time also being a very successful business for the people living there.

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and again, this is complete hearsay. There is no science, whatsoever, behind this. Please research your facts before furthering the rumors. Who did you hear this from? Were they, by chance, someone who benefits from importing?

~Kat

Signed

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Originally Posted by janeothejungle

and again, this is complete hearsay. There is no science, whatsoever, behind this. Please research your facts before furthering the rumors. Who did you hear this from? Were they, by chance, someone who benefits from importing?

~Kat

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Check out the DVD "Ball Pythons in the Wild" by DR. Steve Gorzula, you would find this info and much more!!

Banning people from importing them into the United States would be fine with me as long as we are still able to keep, breed, and transport the ones that are already here. I don't see any reason to import 500,000 ball pythons into the United States each year. I am sure I will get flamed for this, but that is just my opinion.

I tried signing and it said that I already had. I know that is not correct unless they just carried my sig over from the previous incarnation.

Anyone else getting this???