Help USARK Defeat S373 Python Ban Today!

Help USARK Defeat S373 Python Ban Today!

It is rumored that S373 `The Python Ban' may be included in a large omnibus Natural Resources Bill during the `Lame Duck' session of Congress from now until the end of the legislative session. This provides the Reptile Nation an opportunity to kill S373 once and for all! Do Not allow powerful special interests to railroad S373 through in the 11th hour. Follow the link below and contact your two US Senators and ask them to oppose S373. USARK needs your help to Kill S373! Please take this opportunity to help win a great victory for the Reptile Nation.

Last Christmas USARK and the Reptile Nation rallied and produced a massive letter writing campaign that derailed S373... even after it passed Committee. Now we must reaffirm with our Senators strong opposition to this ill conceived legislation. If we turn out big numbers we will win again! Now is the opportunity to finish off S373 once and for all! Please spread the word to the four corners of the Reptile Nation. Forward this communiqué to your friends, family, co-workers, social networks and forums. There is Strength in Numbers… Protect Your Rights!

Click here to Defeat S373 `The Python Ban':
http://united-states-association-of-...op-python-ban/

Got the page bookmarked and will take an active role! Thank you!

Sent a much longer letter than the default just a minute ago. Also forwarded the link to a few friends to send. Will see how many more I can get to do it tomorrow.

Done. I also added to the letter.

I sent them to my senators last nite, North Carolina senators that is.
I havent received a response from Senator Burr but Senator Hagan sent me what looks like a form letter, lol, here it is
"Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the importation of non-native snakes into the United States. I greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue.

Non-native plant and animal species introduced to the United States often pose a significant threat to the local environment, public health, and the domestic economy. New species can damage sensitive ecosystems, carry disease, and compete with existing species for scarce resources. Unfortunately, once a non-native species is established, methods to remove the species can be costly, inhumane, or ineffective. For that reason, the federal government works to monitor the importation of potentially damaging species into the United States.

As you know, nearly 30,000 Burmese pythons are estimated to be living in Southern Florida, threatening multiple native species and a delicate natural ecosystem. This self-sustaining population is believed to have originated from pets that have escaped or were illegally released, and it has no natural predator in the Everglades. On February 3, 2009, a bill to include Pythons as an injurious species (S.373/H.R.2811) was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. On December 10, 2009, the bill was amended and approved by the Committee, and it is now available for consideration by the full Senate. This legislation would prohibit Pythons and eight similar constrictor snakes from being shipped or imported into the United States.

I believe we need to ensure that newly imported species will not negatively affect North Carolina's economy or environment. Like you, I also believe it is important to balance the protection of our natural resources with the rights of pet owners. While S.373 has not yet been considered by the full Senate, please be assured that I will continue to keep your thoughts and opinions in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is truly an honor to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate, and I hope you will not hesitate to contact me in the future should you have any further questions or concerns."


Do you guys and gals see any blatant misinformation I can debate her on?
Thanks!
I also sent the link to everyone I know to see if we can get more people in NC to speak out.
Brandon

done and done, shared this on my personal and business facebook accounts too, also saw lots of others passing it around

geckoguy: they have plenty of natural predators, all kinds of birds and gators and mammals eat them, especially as babies

I actually sent ANOTHER letter, in response to the reply I received from Senator Nelson (who knows if he'll actually read any of these, lol).


GeckoGuy--almost all of the information that senator has is false.

Inform them that this covers MORE than importation--it's about interstate transport as well, and the snakes already exist in every State.

There is no evidence that the Burmese are damaging the ecosystem, and many species eat them.

These animals cannot survive in North Carolina, and the USGS report has been condemned as bad science and is being challenged. Over 60% of the Burmese in the everglades were killed by cold last winter, and virtually all of the large adults died.

This bill does not prohibit owning, breeding, or selling the snakes--only transporting them across State lines, which makes releases more likely, since current owners cannot take the animals with them if they move to another State (and these animals live for 30 years).

Boa Constrictors are big business, and this bill will bankrupt families.

This bill CANNOT accomplish what it claims to want to accomplish, and instead can only make the issue worse while damaging the reptile industry and economy.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Done. I also added to the letter.

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Ditto

i sent my letters this morning. i hope we can finally put an end to this nonsense, but i have a sneaky feeling there will always be something threatening our hobby. a great big thanks to usark and all those who are working so hard to protect this wonderful hobby.

i sent the letter, and i forwarded the issue to several friends and family.

fyi: bill nelson (perhaps the biggest anti-snake politician in the senate) is one of our senators here in fla.

Chris, your letters are on the way to Congress!
Your email to Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D IL) sent!
Your email to Sen. Roland Burris (D IL) sent!

DONE I ALSO POSTED IT ON FACEBOOK:D:D:D

I submitted an edited/added onto letter earlier this evening, and I was the 126th person from Texas to submit emails to my Senators. I received an automated response from one just saying that my email had been received, so i guess we'll see tomorrow if I get an actual response.

34th in CT, not alot but atleast it's something. I spread the word with Facebook and Craigslist, I will also ask a bunch of people to help with this tomorrow.

just sent my votes out :sweeet:
I'll be sure to tell all my local pet stores that sell snakes about it to.

Death to all snake bans !:salute:

Done, but I can't believe that I'm the 144th person from PA to sent it.

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Originally Posted by jben

Done, but I can't believe that I'm the 144th person from PA to sent it.

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Pretty sure those numbers are cumulative from the form used earlier this year. I doubt I was actually in the 130's from FL when I sent mine in within an hour of getting the email...

Made a FB group about it, I have around 12 people in it and hopefully more to come. I will be trying to get a event together on NCSU about it in the Brickyard.

Found out the yesterday that the Dem. Sen. of NC is voting for the bill, haven't heard anything fro the Rep Sen yet.
Supposedly the Senators in NC that vote with their parties are 90% for the Rep. and 94% for the Dem.

I am number 123 from Illinois :banana:.Cmon people i know there are more of us lets get it going :gj:

#133 from Virginia.

Sent my letter!

Well i got 1 auto response letter and 1 more detailed letter from my Senators.The both sound like they agree with the ban :mad:

Added some more to the letter (made the sentences flow a lot better and corrected some grammar/punctuation.) and sent to my Senators! Hoping to wrangle my family and friends into doing the same.

Done. I am the 375th person to submit the e-mails.

So I heard back from one of my senators today. Here's what he [I think it may be a "generic" type letter though] had to say:

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Thank you for contacting me regarding legislation to regulate the importation of certain exotic or non-native animal species. I appreciate having the benefit of your views on this matter.

As you know, several measures that would regulate the importation of exotic wildlife are currently under consideration. The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (H.R. 669) would direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate the risk of a nonnative species before approving it for importation—a measure aimed at curtailing the invasion of local ecosystems by foreign species with no natural predators. Similarly, Senate Bill 373 (S. 373) would designate python snakes as an “injurious species” under the United States Code, thereby banning the species from being shipped or imported into the U.S.

I understand the importance of protecting our environment and population against the incursion of invasive species; however, I am concerned that these measures may not provide the flexibility required for Texas’ legitimate wild and exotic animal enterprises such as the pet industry, zoos, game ranches, and wildlife conservation activities. Historically, state laws and local ordinances have been established to regulate pet and wildlife ownership, and I believe that governance over this matter should be reserved for state and local entities.

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