Last chance: Kill wv sb477

SB477 is in the WV House Judiciary Committee. THIS MAY BE OUR LAST CHANCE TO KILL SB477! Please call and email committee members. If you did not take action in the House Natural Resources Committee, you can not afford to procrastinate. DO THIS TODAY! Send a return email to let us know you have done your part! Phone campaign info is below. Underneath phone campaign is email campaign. Let's shut down SB477 TODAY!

PHONE CALL CAMPAIGN:
We need everyone to TELEPHONE CALL the state house and register your opposition to SB477.

Sample script:

Unlike traditional pets and livestock, Reptiles have NEVER presented a public safety risk.
Tropical reptiles cannot survive in WV, and DO NOT represent any invasive species risk.
Reptile Industry is a $15 million annual business in WV. Thousands of people and hundreds of jobs rely on this non-traditional agricultural pursuit.
These bills will hurt me and my family with no measurable benefit to the State of WV.
SB477 has been rushed through the process with minimal input from stakeholders.
No on SB477

Judiciary Committee

Delegate Miley
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3252
Business Phone: (304) 326-1800
E-mail: tim.miley@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Hunt
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3392
Business Phone: (304) 344-1800
E-mail: mhunt@markahunt.com

Delegate Ellem
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3394
Business Phone: (304) 424-5297
E-mail: john.ellem@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Lane
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3275
Business Phone: (304) 545-5263
E-mail: patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Barker
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3149
Business Phone: (304) 340-3149
E-mail: larry.barker@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Brown
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3106
Business Phone: NA
E-mail: bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Doyle
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3184
Business Phone: (304) 876-1648
E-mail: johndoyle@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ferro
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3111
Business Phone: (304) 340-3111
E-mail: mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3169
Business Phone: (304) 296-7035
E-mail: barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Frazier
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3396
Business Phone: NA
E-mail: john.frazier@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Longstreth
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3124
Business Phone: NA
E-mail: linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Manchin
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3166
Business Phone: (304) 367-1862
E-mail: tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com

Delegate Mannypenny
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3139
Business Phone: (304) 677-0379
E-mail: mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov

Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3340
Business Phone: (304) 538-6881
E-mail: harold@hardynet.com

Delegate Moore
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3189
Business Phone: (304) 436-8569
E-mail: clif.moore@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Pino
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3170
Business Phone: (304) 469-3295
E-mail: john.pino@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Poore
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3248
Business Phone: (304) 720-0764
E-mail: meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Walker
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3135
Business Phone: (304) 340-3135
E-mail: david.walker@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Wells
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3287
Business Phone: NA
E-mail: danny.wells@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Hamilton
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3167
Business Phone: (304) 472-1532
E-mail: bill.hamilton@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ireland
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3195
Business Phone: NA
E-mail: woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Miller
Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3147
Business Phone: (304) 283-5975
E-mail: jonathan@delegatejmiller.com

Delegate Oneal

Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3164
Business Phone: (304) 894-8445
E-mail: john.oneal@wvhouse.gov





Delegate Overington

Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3148
Business Phone: (304) 274-1791
E-mail: john@overington.com





Delegate Sobonya

Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3175
Business Phone: (304) 736-6655
E-mail: kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov




EMAIL CAMPAIGN:




Sample Letter:




Subject Line: No on SB477




Delegate Mannypenny and Committee Members,

As a resident/stakeholder in the West Virginia reptile community I appreciate your concern for public safety and environmental protection. However, your proposed bill is far too over reaching in regards to reptiles. Who ever assisted in the construction of the bill doesn't understand the natural history, captive husbandry nor the economics of reptiles in WV. Most of these animals are tropical in nature and cannot survive the cold temperatures that prevail 3 seasons of the year in our state. The idea that these animals pose an invasive species threat to WV natural resources is unsupportable by fact. Additionally, these animals have never posed a public safety threat in WV or elsewhere.

The reptile industry represents $15 million annually in commerce in West Virginia. Thousands make their living in this State because of this business. To cavalierly destroy this non-traditional agricultural interest because of a fundamental lack of understanding is unacceptable. As written, this bill will hurt me and my family. It is bad idea to kill jobs in this kind of economy.

Working with certain reptiles entails a moderate occupational risk, but historically and statistically, reptiles represent virtually zero public safety risk. Dogs account for 35 deaths a year in this country (a dozen in 2012 to date). Captive reptiles less than one per year. Traditional livestock and pets have proven much more of a public safety risk than reptiles. According to US Fish & Wildlife and US Geological Services studies, the rare event of a death as the result of a captive reptile falls into the category of occupational hazard. There is no record whatsoever of a captive reptile creating any measurable risk to the public... NEVER!




SB477 has been rushed through the legislative process with minimal stakeholder input.

Neighboring Virginia has already seen the wisdom in reconsidering such an ill advised bill. Please remove ALL reptiles from SB477. Thank you.

Thank you.




Email List for House Natural Resources Committee: (if emails bounce slightly change subject line keeping SB477; or try sending to addresses one at a time)


tim.miley@wvhouse.gov
mhunt@markahunt.com
john.ellem@wvhouse.gov
patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov
larry.barker@wvhouse.gov
bonnie.brown@wvhouse.gov
johndoyle@wvhouse.gov
mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov
barbaraf@wvhouse.gov
john.frazier@wvhouse.gov
linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov
tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com
mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov
harold@hardynet.com
clif.moore@wvhouse.gov
john.pino@wvhouse.gov
meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov
david.walker@wvhouse.gov
danny.wells@wvhouse.gov
woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov
jonathan@delegatejmiller.com
john.oneal@wvhouse.gov
john@overington.com
kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov

I am not sure if I helped or not but I did send a group email to the emails on the list. I Am in Texas, not WV. but I believe in still fighting each state because I think that is the only way the SR 511 is really ever going to get pushed if every state can do it on there own.

Thank you. I am a new WV resident and this makes me upset to say the least. It's really hampered what had been joy to move to the state.

I wrote them last time and I am doing it again right now, individually, one at a time. I also edited up the letter a little to make it less generic.

I've sent my e-mails out, made my calls. I didn't speak directly to any of the members but my voice is still there. Additionally i posted all information on my FB page, hopefully more will join in or at least share.

Done. Again.

Question. Where's USARK on this one? They've been plenty active on facebook promoting their new logo, show appearances, pats on the back, etc, but no mention that WV is still actively needing help to stop this.

Can we really afford to lose even ONE state right now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fire-eyes

Thank you. I am a new WV resident and this makes me upset to say the least. It's really hampered what had been joy to move to the state.

I wrote them last time and I am doing it again right now, individually, one at a time. I also edited up the letter a little to make it less generic.

---

Hiya! I just left Clarksburg a couple months ago. :D

Earlier today my fiance sent out her e-mails and made her phone calls as well. She even sent an e-mail to the professor in charge of the Herpetology Lab at Marshall Univ. letting him know {if he didn't already} what's happening. Hopefully that will work favorably for us.

i can't stand this, just another reason for me to pack up and move on to Ohio, I did send in my emails to these people, I may be only 13, but I know how to work things here, and this I can tell is just not gonna blow over easy. :(

My gf got an e-mail back from Bonnie Brown earlier today saying that the bill was "passed out of judiciary today." I'm taking this as a bad thing until I hear otherwise.

UPDATE:

I just got off the phone with Delegate Daryl Cowles and although he's against it he's pretty sure it's going to pass. As amended today, the SB477 as we know it is no longer valid as the amendments were to push the rulemaking out to external committees (Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, etc).

His advice to me was that if we call and/or email between now and Saturday to include "Oppose SB477 even as amended" in the subject line because if we just put "Oppose SB477" the delegates aren't likely to take it into consideration because they'll assume we're just talking about the old version that is no longer valid.

He also told me that the committee process, even if it passes, will take 14-16 months along with a public comment period, to be brought into enforceable law....meaning we don't have to start selling off our animals yet.

I was also told that he raised the question of "what is a dangerous animal - even a ferret could bite a child" he was shown a picture of an alligator in some public park in WV and told that "This is why we need to pass this bill" ....which he said was met with several "oh my gosh"-type replies from delegates around him.

does this bill just ban snakes non-native to wv or all big snakes, i just sent it in without reading it

As it was, the bill would ban all wildlife not native to WV. Big, little, scaly, furry, you name it...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TrpnBils

As it was, the bill would ban all wildlife not native to WV. Big, little, scaly, furry, you name it...

---

well, guess I'd better sale my bp and my corn snake because if i cant have my bp, i dont want a snake at all :/

Read my update the post before yours... even if/when this does go into effect, it won't be lawfully enforceable for another 14-16 months after a public comment period and who knows how many changes. It's not a lost cause yet. Don't sell your animals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TrpnBils

Read my update the post before yours... even if/when this does go into effect, it won't be lawfully enforceable for another 14-16 months after a public comment period and who knows how many changes. It's not a lost cause yet. Don't sell your animals.

---

yeah, but west virginia doesnt think things through, honestly theyre a little messed up -___-

I'm right there with you.... just never changed my profile on here when we moved last year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TrpnBils

I'm right there with you.... just never changed my profile on here when we moved last year.

---

sorry if its personal but wht city r u in?

Berkeley Springs for the time being.... my wife and I have saved up enough money from breeding snakes to put a downpayment on a house, and I've mentioned to all of the delegates I've talked to that we're willing to go a few miles up the road to Maryland or PA and buy a house there when our lease is up this summer rather than give up our animals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TrpnBils

Berkeley Springs for the time being.... my wife and I have saved up enough money from breeding snakes to put a downpayment on a house, and I've mentioned to all of the delegates I've talked to that we're willing to go a few miles up the road to Maryland or PA and buy a house there when our lease is up this summer rather than give up our animals.

---

ah im in charleston, closest is ohio and kentucky, and western virginia. what are the laws there like?

If anyone on here is actively enaged in fighting this bill, or resides in the state of West Virginia, please get in touch with Cindy Steinle. She is in contact with PIJAC regarding this bill and is looking for people in West Virginia to help organize and fight it.

phfaust@pethobbyist.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ER12

If anyone on here is actively enaged in fighting this bill, or resides in the state of West Virginia, please get in touch with Cindy Steinle. She is in contact with PIJAC regarding this bill and is looking for people in West Virginia to help organize and fight it.

phfaust@pethobbyist.com

---

i emailed her

same here

We have been fighting this with very limited help from USARK. I live in Huntington and am president of the Tri-State Herpetological Society. We have been contacting everyone we know. Joe Perdue from specialty pets in Nitro has been to the capital and spoken to many rep. We have been calling and emailing since early Feb. It looks like we may have one more day to fight this. The session ends tomorrow night at midnight.

So get on the horn and educate our house of Representatives. I got a pretty nasty email from one of our democrat rep. Saying that we are lying about reptiles not being dangerous, or a threat to our states ecosystem.

www.tristateherp.com

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ER12

If anyone on here is actively enaged in fighting this bill, or resides in the state of West Virginia, please get in touch with Cindy Steinle. She is in contact with PIJAC regarding this bill and is looking for people in West Virginia to help organize and fight it.

phfaust@pethobbyist.com

---

Unfortunately our time to organize is over. The session ends tomorrow night at midnight. Only thing we can do now is show up, or call.

Sent from my N860 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reptilenut

We have been fighting this with very limited help from USARK. I live in Huntington and am president of the Tri-State Herpetological Society. We have been contacting everyone we know. Joe Perdue from specialty pets in Nitro has been to the capital and spoken to many rep. We have been calling and emailing since early Feb. It looks like we may have one more day to fight this. The session ends tomorrow night at midnight.

So get on the horn and educate our house of Representatives. I got a pretty nasty email from one of our democrat rep. Saying that we are lying about reptiles not being dangerous, or a threat to our states ecosystem.

www.tristateherp.com

---

Would you mind sharing who that rep was? PM me if necessary

this is NOT ok, we now go from having our rights to own animals to being called liars. I'm pretty sure we know how "dangerous" our animals are. My friend Tristan made a good point on Facebook last night as I was talking to him about it and he was thinking of getting a snake, he said that he could own a coyote, but not a ball python. I laughed, and said yeah, all because it's from WV.

Just got done spreading USARK's alert to every pet forum I know of (several non-herp related ones), and several completely unrelated forums with pet or news areas.

The herp community knows, when you post about this, try to get it up on places where the people don't already know.

I'm not in WV, but I'm certainly rooting for you to win this one.

I violated company policy yesterday and mentioned this to all my production associates at our shift meeting; I asked for their help and support in blocking this bill :D They all enlisted their support and hopefully made their calls this morning. I'll reiterate to them when we see each other later today to call again ASAP tomorrow.