RED ALERT: Stop Federal Python BAN!

RED ALERT: Stop Federal Python BAN!
This is the final push in the BIG FIGHT to stop the Boa and Python BAN! This BIG FIGHT has been 4 years in the making (since 2008) ... Help USARK put the Python Ban to rest in 2012! Please participate and help the Reptile Nation overcome the most devistating attack the Herp Community has ever faced!! Please read and follow the instructions to ensure your voice is heard by President Obama, the US Congress and the US Senate.

US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has a proposed rule being considered by the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB). This is the final stage of the rule making process. This rule, if enacted, would ban the import and interstate transport of nine constricting snakes; Burmese python, Northern & Southern African pythons, Reticulated python, all four Anacondas, and Boa constrictor. This rule has been called the "Constrictor Rule". All of these constrictors would be added to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. If this were to happen more than 1 million American citizens could be subject to felony prosecution under the Lacey Act. It is the job of OMB to weigh the purported benefits of the rule against the economic impacts. It is also their duty to assure the rule has been given due process under the Administrative Procedures Act, Information Quality Act and all pertinent Executive Orders. USARK has created a clear public record that FWS has failed at every level to make their case for this rule. According to emails obtained by USARK it appears that staff at FWS colluded with staff at the US Geological Survey (USGS) to manufacture "science" to support this rule making after the decision had already been made to pursue a Lacey Act listing. Further, FWS grossly underestimated the economic impact. USGS has justified their flawed "science" by saying they were not required to adhere to information quality standards for science used to support the rule because the rule did not meet the standard for a major rule making ($100 million). An economic assessment of the Modern Reptile Industry commissioned by USARK, and done by Georgetown Economic Services, has since debunked USGS claims by asserting that the rule could have impact in excess of $103 million. USARK believes the actions of FWS and USGS in regards to the Constrictor Rule are arbitrary, capricious and potentially unlawful.

Please send the letter below to President Obama and your Senators and Congressmen to let them know you are aware of the actions of FWS and the negative impact on you, your family and business. Just follow the simple instructions.

Do it now and share with all your friends, family, social networks, forums and email lists! This is your chance to make a difference and help USARK set a positive precedent for our industry.
united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers.rallycongress.com/5799/no-on-fws-python-rule-bad-american-small-business-families-alread/

I went ahead and stickied this one to the top of the forum and will leave it here for so long as it is relevant.

Just emailed and hand delivered the petitions!

PAY FOR THE PAPER. We learned the first time around that it WORKS. (If you don't want to pay, print it out and mail it yourselves).
This couldn't be more important.

(Signed, and sent, paper and e-mail).

I am a Canadian and not able to actually sign but I support USARK and reptile nation and have been keeping a close eye on the developments south of the border! Best of Luck and rally the troops!

Signed and emailed all.

Signed, sent emails, and sent hard copies.

Got this in my e-mail and sent it right away.

Emails sent! If I was able to, I'd print them off too, but I can't. I'll also be posting the link to my facebook.

Come on everyone lets get these letters out!

Paper sent.

If anyone thinks that this doesn't apply to them, because they don't own one of "The 9", think about it. The first eight snakes listed are specific animals. Boa Constrictor is not a specific name, but a sub-species that contains 10 more snakes. Now the list suddenly increases from "The 9" to "The 19". Here they are:

1) Boa Constrictor Constrictor (BCC)
2) Boa Constrictor Imperator (BCI)
3) Boa Constrictor Amarali
4) Boa Constrictor Longicauda
5) Boa Constrictor Melanogaster
6) Boa Constrictor Nebulosa
7) Boa Constrictor Occidentalis
8) Boa Constrictor Orophias
9) Boa Constrictor Ortonii
10) Boa Constrictor Sabogae

At a minimum, the proposed ban list includes all red-tails, island boas, and dwarf boas. I haven't been able to find the exact text of the bill, to find out exactly what their definition of Boa Constrictor is.
If they are using the term Boa Constrictor to describe the sub-family Boinae, then you can add all of the tree boas, rainbow boas, rubber boas, Rosy Boas, and the three Madagascar boas to the list as well, which would add approximately 35 more snakes to the list. So, now it goes from "The 9" to "The 54".
If their definition of the term Boa Constrictor describes the family Boidae, then you can also add all of the sand boas to that list.

That list does not ban "only 9 snakes" or just the "big ones". It's no secret that they are gunning for the whole industry.

Sent. I wish these idiots would stop telling us what we can and can't do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ER12

RED ALERT: Stop Federal Python BAN!
This is the final push in the BIG FIGHT to stop the Boa and Python BAN! This BIG FIGHT has been 4 years in the making (since 2008) ... Help USARK put the Python Ban to rest in 2012! Please participate and help the Reptile Nation overcome the most devistating attack the Herp Community has ever faced!! Please read and follow the instructions to ensure your voice is heard by President Obama, the US Congress and the US Senate.

US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has a proposed rule being considered by the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB). This is the final stage of the rule making process. This rule, if enacted, would ban the import and interstate transport of nine constricting snakes; Burmese python, Northern & Southern African pythons, Reticulated python, all four Anacondas, and Boa constrictor. This rule has been called the "Constrictor Rule". All of these constrictors would be added to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. If this were to happen more than 1 million American citizens could be subject to felony prosecution under the Lacey Act. It is the job of OMB to weigh the purported benefits of the rule against the economic impacts. It is also their duty to assure the rule has been given due process under the Administrative Procedures Act, Information Quality Act and all pertinent Executive Orders. USARK has created a clear public record that FWS has failed at every level to make their case for this rule. According to emails obtained by USARK it appears that staff at FWS colluded with staff at the US Geological Survey (USGS) to manufacture "science" to support this rule making after the decision had already been made to pursue a Lacey Act listing. Further, FWS grossly underestimated the economic impact. USGS has justified their flawed "science" by saying they were not required to adhere to information quality standards for science used to support the rule because the rule did not meet the standard for a major rule making ($100 million). An economic assessment of the Modern Reptile Industry commissioned by USARK, and done by Georgetown Economic Services, has since debunked USGS claims by asserting that the rule could have impact in excess of $103 million. USARK believes the actions of FWS and USGS in regards to the Constrictor Rule are arbitrary, capricious and potentially unlawful.

Please send the letter below to President Obama and your Senators and Congressmen to let them know you are aware of the actions of FWS and the negative impact on you, your family and business. Just follow the simple instructions.

Do it now and share with all your friends, family, social networks, forums and email lists! This is your chance to make a difference and help USARK set a positive precedent for our industry.
united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers.rallycongress.com/5799/no-on-fws-python-rule-bad-american-small-business-families-alread/

---

SENT ! We should be able to keep our snakes!

Already got one response;

Quote:

---

January 6, 2012


Dear Ms. Gath,

Thank you for contacting me about efforts to ban the importation of certain snake species into the United States. I appreciate hearing from you.

Specific to your concerns, Representative Thomas Rooney (R-FL) introduced H.R. 511 on January 26, 2011. Among its provisions, H.R. 511 would amend the federal criminal code to prohibit the importation of pythons, boa constrictors, and anacondas into the United States.

Currently, the bill is pending before the House Judiciary Committee. I understand your concerns about this bill and the impacts it may have on the domestic reptile industry. Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as this measure progresses through the legislative process.

Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Signature

Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

---

Did anyone else get a response? I sent one, my fiancée sent one. We just can't send hard copies.

Sent emails and payed for the printed letters. Thanks for putting this to everyones attention.

Regards,

B

Sent emails sorry i am unable to send hard. but i got a reply. already here it is:

Dear Tylyn,



Thank you for contacting my office. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts about current issues. Please be assured that constituent correspondence will receive a reply in the near future.



Sincerely,



Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

Signed, sent emails, paid for hard copies. We gotta take this thing down, trying to police a pet industry highlighted in their eyes only because of the hype of how "scary" the animals are rather than how lethal/dangerous (dog maulings vs deaths due to reptiles anyone?) is ridiculous. Plus the encouragement of HSUS and PETA, but that's a different can of worms altogether

My letters have been sent. I hope our efforts put this ban to rest!

Sent!!!

Someone with a Craigslist account should post this on the pets discussion on Craigslist. (I don't have one, because I have no cell phone, and use a Magic Jack for my home phone).

sent on its way

this is what I got back?

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your email. I appreciate hearing from you.

We are experiencing a high volume of incoming emails, but every message is read by my staff and if you live in Illinois we will provide a response as soon as possible.

I appreciate your comments. Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

Sent with a little extra....

"I just want to say Thank You to everyone who supported this bill and for trying to take away our freedom as AMERICANS... What else do you want to take next, When will you stop trying to control lives of people. This ban is just another attack on the civil liberties that we have left. WHEN WILL YOU BE DONE TAKING FROM THE PEOPLE!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Vypyrz

If anyone thinks that this doesn't apply to them, because they don't own one of "The 9", think about it. The first eight snakes listed are specific animals. Boa Constrictor is not a specific name, but a sub-species that contains 10 more snakes. Now the list suddenly increases from "The 9" to "The 19". Here they are:

1) Boa Constrictor Constrictor (BCC)
2) Boa Constrictor Imperator (BCI)
3) Boa Constrictor Amarali
4) Boa Constrictor Longicauda
5) Boa Constrictor Melanogaster
6) Boa Constrictor Nebulosa
7) Boa Constrictor Occidentalis
8) Boa Constrictor Orophias
9) Boa Constrictor Ortonii
10) Boa Constrictor Sabogae

At a minimum, the proposed ban list includes all red-tails, island boas, and dwarf boas. I haven't been able to find the exact text of the bill, to find out exactly what their definition of Boa Constrictor is.
If they are using the term Boa Constrictor to describe the sub-family Boinae, then you can add all of the tree boas, rainbow boas, rubber boas, Rosy Boas, and the three Madagascar boas to the list as well, which would add approximately 35 more snakes to the list. So, now it goes from "The 9" to "The 54".
If their definition of the term Boa Constrictor describes the family Boidae, then you can also add all of the sand boas to that list.

That list does not ban "only 9 snakes" or just the "big ones". It's no secret that they are gunning for the whole industry.

---

The language of the bill reads:

SECTION 1. IMPORTATION OR SHIPMENT OF INJURIOUS SPECIES.

Section 42(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by inserting after `polymorpha;' the following: `of the Indian python of the species Python molurus, including the Burmese python of the species Python molurus bivittatus; of the reticulated python of the species Broghammerus reticulatus or Python reticulatus; of the Northern African python of the species Python sebae; of the Southern African python of the species Python natalensis; of the boa constrictor of the species Boa constrictor; of the yellow anaconda of the species Eunectes notaeus; of the DeSchauensee's anaconda of the species Eunectes deschauenseei; of the green anaconda of the species Eunectes murinus; of the Beni anaconda of the species Eunectes beniensis;'.

Source: http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.511:

I would take that to mean the first 10 subspecies are included. This would mean the rainbow, rubber and others are safe. I can actually understand the congressional intent here because as far as I know scientists have not made dinstinctions between the dwarf island boas and others. I know and you know differences occur, but Congress can only really act on scientific certainty, and they actually usually balk at that too.

I'm confused

Does this ban include ball pythons??

Im confused too as to why my email is so different lol why did mine come from Durbin? And why would it matter if Im from Illinois? I sent my in on the third and got that back the 5th

Sent!!!

e-mails sent, i would hand deliver them but i dont have access to a printer

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by naginitbp

I'm confused

Does this ban include ball pythons??

---

No- not as far as I can tell from the language of the bill.

Emails sent, letters paid for, tomorrow I am going to call my reps.

Signed and sent!

Signed and Sent!

Come on every... we're up to almost 12.4K me And my fiancée BOTH sent emails. (No printers... :( ) I've also gotten 4 relatives to sign who HATE snakes, why? Because they know it makes me happy.. reach out everyone!!!! Lets get those 25K signatures!

P.s... can anyone give me a number to who I need to call to discuss this ban in IL? (I.e. the call that would have the most effect and what to say...)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zeion97

Come on every... we're up to almost 12.4K me And my fiancée BOTH sent emails. (No printers... :( ) I've also gotten 4 relatives to sign who HATE snakes, why? Because they know it makes me happy.. reach out everyone!!!! Lets get those 25K signatures!

P.s... can anyone give me a number to who I need to call to discuss this ban in IL? (I.e. the call that would have the most effect and what to say...)

---

Look up your states Senators, and your local rep from the US house of reps.

Sent my own letter (not the USARK one) via email. Going to try to get some printed out and fired off on paper too, though. It never hurts to send as much opposition as you possibly can, even if some of it is redundant. These people listen to numbers, and you can bet that the "other side" is trying to rally their numbers as well ... And they have the fear of a good proportion of the US population on their side.

Signed, sent and posted on Facebook and Twitter!!

signed sent all letters....twice! just to make sure they ALL get them :D shared on face book, my wife tweeted, and made sure a couple other local reptile people had it posted directly onto their walls too.

later

done.
spooky

Signed and sent letters. I know this ban doesn't include ball pythons, but once they ban any python it's just going to snowball from there.

I just did a search and a lot of these snakes top out at 6-10 feet, these aren't big snakes, not good...
Here is where you can read up on the boa species: http://www.boa-constrictors.com/en/b...or_constrictor

Signed and sent. Someone needs to bring a really cute baby burm into the White House and show those politicians!

Signed, sealed, and delivered. Including hard copies. :gj:

Done and done. Come on people, we need to show these clowns how strong our community is, maybe they'll think twice before trying to pass the next bill if we can shut this down with authority!

sent, sent SENT!!!

Sent!!! Why is the government trying to take more of our rights away!!! Just because of some stupid people who shouldn't own reptiles in the first place!!!

You should realize that this does NOT ban the sale or breeding of snakes already IN the united states.

But it's still completely wrong. This is, if anything, a state issue. The Federal government keeps going TOO FAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Muzzle that :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: and let the states hold it's leash.

Sent my letters, and became a USARK member.
I couldn't imagine not being allowed to keep or collect snakes.:snake:

Sent my letter! I also posted this link on my Facebook with my own rant and a copy of my letter so that people who don't keep snakes can get wind of it and see why it hurts them too. If for no other reason, because our government is wasting its time on issues like this rather than issues like national debt, economic recovery.... you know, little things like that. No, what Americans should be allowed to keep as pets is WAY more important than how they will be able to feed their families. :rage: Imagine the time and money that has been and will be spent to "research" this and vote on this. Seriously?! What is the world coming too.

I forgot if I commented here. But paper was sent!