DANGER: Python Ban Moving Fast!!!

The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (EPW), Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife held a Hearing on S373 aka the Python Ban today at 2 PM. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman, presided. Senator Bond and Senator Levine were the only presenters. Senator Bill Nelsen, the Bill sponsor, was not in attendance to present on S373. The Hearing was brief and more of a formality in order to move 9 different bills forward quickly.

Some of you that are following USARK on Twitter got the blow by blow during the hearing. Dan Ashe, Deputy Secretary of US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), testified on S373 recommending that the Bill be amended to include all 9 snakes addressed in the recent US Geologic Survey (USGS) Report on large constrictors. Chairman Cardin indicated that USFWS should approach Senator Nelson regarding amendment. Robert Ben**** of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), while acknowledging problems with the science in the USGS Report, also recommended amending S373 to include the 9 snakes.

The representative of the Humane Society of the United States was seen urging USFWS to ask Senator Nelson to amend S373 to include 45 species of Boa and Python.
‘The Burmese Python is being used by politicians and special interests to railroad the Reptile Nation!’

S373 as written would add ALL 40 species of python to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act; the entire python genre. If amended as recommended by USFWS and TNC it would add all 4 species of anaconda and Boa Constrictor to the list. That would be 45 species in all. Although the Bill Sponsor is from Florida this is not a Florida Bill. This is federal legislation that would affect the entire country…. Including, but not limited to, Ball Pythons, Chondros, Blood Pythons, Carpet Pythons and Boa Constrictors. If passed S373 will destroy the Reptile Nation!

It is time for a gut check. Have you done everything you can to keep this nightmare scenario from happening? If you have we greatly appreciate your support!! If you have been sitting on the sidelines hoping others will take care of this for you please stand up and help now. We need members and money to fight this legislation. You can make excuses or you can take action! There is Strength in Numbers… Protect Your Rights! In the coming days USARK will ask a lot from the Reptile Nation. This is it. It is now or never. Live or die. This industry and hobby has NEVER been so close to annihilation. Please don’t go quietly into the night.

Next Thursday, December 10, 2009 S373 will go to ‘Mark Up’ before the Senate EPW Committee. This is where the Bill can be amended. USARK has submitted several amendment proposals. We have one week to have an impact! Get involved and get ready to take massive action. We have worked too hard and come too far to let it all go now! ONE WEEK!… Don’t Sit This One Out!!!
‘Get ready for a MASSIVE Grass Roots Campaign Against S373!’

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***Stay Tuned For Detailed Instructions on How To Take Massive Grass Roots Action***

I hope everyone is taking this as serious as they should be.

As do I! Hopefully there will be another alert from USARK advising us the best tactic to take this next week.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

As do I! Hopefully there will be another alert from USARK advising us the best tactic to take this next week.

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i hope ppl are not waiting for that. they still should be calling

Guys, I just renewed my membership. If your membership has expired, or if you haven't joined, please join USARK or make a monetary donation - now more than ever, our financial support as well as our time is critical!

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Originally Posted by nixer

i hope ppl are not waiting for that. they still should be calling

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Agreed!

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This is federal legislation that would affect the entire country…. Including, but not limited to, Ball Pythons, Chondros, Blood Pythons, Carpet Pythons and Boa Constrictors. If passed S373 will destroy the Reptile Nation!

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I don't know if people saw this part or not, or if some people have felt that these bans won't affect ball python keepers - think again! Let your voices be heard - do not go quietly!

Yeah this affects EVERYONE....

I've been pretty upset about this whole ordeal in general.

But when I saw Blood Pythons SPECIFICALLY

It got personal

I just became a bronze member of USARK and trying to spread the word on face book. COntact your senators and everyone people. All of us need to be together in this battle.

Good little video from USARK's site.

They knew S373 was going to be a tough one.

I would expect that were going to be doing a repeat of HR669 with the letter campaign.

Its towards the end


YouTube - U.S. ARK's Andrew Wyatt Gives Reptile Nation Legal Update

Maybe if we as a huge group did a mass contact the media campaign e-mail your own local newspaper about the destruction of a 3 billion dollar industry based on media hype. Maybe if we were able to get the message out to wall street after all there are a lot of small public companies ( stock market ) with market capital of less than 100 million dollars . We are a reptile nation with sales of 3 billion dollars that needs to get noticed . Just a thought to get the word out there you never know where you can find help.
E-mail CNBC who knows might get a mention then who knows.

Will someone PLEASE tell me who I call in this country to voice my opinion.

There has to be someone... this government here cant be as clueless as those in South Africa.

Anyone at all? representatives? etc? And what do I say?

Did you not make the calls these last few days? This is the list....


Sample:
My name is _____. I oppose S373. Although I support and appreciate efforts to preserve the Everglades, there is NO evidence to show this bill will have any conservation effect on the Everglades. This bill will hurt American families in our state. It would Ban the captive bred trade in 40 species of pythons and destroy thousands of jobs in our state and across the country. Scientists have questioned the USGS report being used to justify this extreme proposal. Science should trump political expediency. Please oppose S373.

Contact: Full Senate EPW Committee
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), (Sponsor S373)
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), (Chair EPW)
Phone: 202-224-3553
Fax: 202-224-0454

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), (Ranking Member EPW)
Phone: 202-224-4721
Fax: 202-228-0380

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), (Chair Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-4524
Fax: 202-224-1651

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (Ranking Member Water & Wildlife)
Phone: 202-224-6142
Fax: 202-228-1375

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Phone: 202-224-4944
Fax: 202-228-3398

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724

Sen. Max Baucus [D-MT]
Phone: 202-224-2651
Fax: 202-224-9412

Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond [R-MO]
Phone: 202-224-5721

Sen. Thomas Carper [D-DE]
Phone: 202-224-2441
Fax: 202-228-2190

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282

Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Phone: 202-224-3244
fax: 202-228-2186

Sen. Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ]
Phone: 202-224-3224
Fax: 202-228-4054

Sen. Jeff Merkley [D-OR]
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997

Sen. Bernard (Bernie) Sanders [I-VT]
Phone: 202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776

Sen. Arlen Specter [D-PA]
Phone: 202-224-4254
Fax: 202-228-1229

Sen. Tom Udall [D-NM]
Phone: 202-224-6621

Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]
Phone: 202-224-4623
Fax: 202-228-5061

Sen. George Voinovich [R-OH]
Phone: 202-224-3353

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]
Phone: 202-224-2921
Fax: 202-228-6362

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Originally Posted by beavermatic

Will someone PLEASE tell me who I call in this country to voice my opinion.

There has to be someone... this government here cant be as clueless as those in South Africa.

Anyone at all? representatives? etc? And what do I say?

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should i call each one of those folks, or just my state of residence?

edit: i also emaild foxnews alerting them of this shadow ban and the upset of the community

Every single one of them. If your Rep is one of them, make sure to let them know that when you call. Just remember to be polite when you call.

This was the list of people we were all calling the last few days.

They had the hearing for it and USARK has notified us of an upcoming Grass Roots effort in the next few days.

Keep on top of this man as this is a real possibility.

It wouldn't hurt to keep calling that whole list EVERYDAY until USARK tells us what to do here in a week or so.

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Originally Posted by beavermatic

should i call each one of those folks, or just my state of residence?

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will start my calls as soon as im off work =)

in the meantime... if anyone is interested in emailing foxnews as well:

yourcomments@foxnews.com

heres a mail i dropped them earlier:

Just thought I'd bring to attention a news detail alot of people are overlooking...

There's a review going through to ban exotic pets within the next couple of weeks. While exotic pets should allways be kept in the hands of experienced owners, there are many that are as harmless (if not more so) as domesicated pets. The media, movies, and urban legends make alot of the animals listed out to be terrible creautures that really are not.

It's sad to see that this is being amended and handled by our government silently so that exotic pet owners dont have a chance at awareness outside of the small forums and groups that do try to catch these things.

The exotic pet trade is a near $3 billion dollar a year industry with trade.

The community of exotic pets, especially that of reptiles, is in complete panic over this, and trying to bring awareness to the situtation, with only minimal help from anyone.

I think bringing this to light will put pressure and make those currently unaware of the issue come forward and speak their opinion, and help give a fighting chance to what is being done silently to wrongfully amend a ban on these pets.

Here is a source of the situation as the community knows it, that can better explain in detail whats going on:


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...58#post1219158


Thank you,
Justin Strunk
Cincinnati, OH

I'm confused, my understanding is that this bill will only affect the python genus, comprised of 7 species and a few subspecies.

"To amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal."

gen·er·a (jěn'ər-ə)
n. Plural of genus.

How does this affect over 40 species??

I'm just asking for clarification, not in any way "supporting" this horrendous bill.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I'm confused, my understanding is that this bill will only affect the python genus, comprised of 7 species and a few subspecies.

"To amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal."

gen·er·a (jěn'ər-ə)
n. Plural of genus.

How does this affect over 40 species??

I'm just asking for clarification, not in any way "supporting" this horrendous bill.

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genera is the plural of genus, so if it says Python genera, my guess is that it is all the pythons, which would be pythonidae. The way they say it is poor wording, but just "Python genera" by itself I would interpret as meaning all python species, or the family pythonidae. Either way it is pretty crappy and worth fighting!!!

Thank you for the list of reps, I personally emailed, called and faxed my statements to all that I could reach. This is an outrage!

thanks snakemastercanada

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Originally Posted by snakemastercanada

genera is the plural of genus, so if it says Python genera, my guess is that it is all the pythons, which would be pythonidae. The way they say it is poor wording, but just "Python genera" by itself I would interpret as meaning all python species, or the family pythonidae. Either way it is pretty crappy and worth fighting!!!

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I think this is a huge problem. These politicians wouldn't know a family from a genus from a species if they got smacked in the head with an intro biology book. Do they truly mean genus python or do they mean anything called a python? Same goes for boas. Do they truly mean all species of boa constrictor or anything called a boa?

Not that one or the other is any better; banning any of them is asinine. But it would still be good to know exactly what they're trying to pass....