Python Rope A Dope

[Aneesa's Muse]

I admit that I don't know much about Burms, so I was doing a little research. According to National Geographic, the Burmese Python is listed as "Threatened". Now isn't this just one step above "endangered". So with these legal python hunts in florida, the politicians are technically pushing the species one step closer to extinction, which is not suprising. "Save the Whales" "Save the Panda" "Save the Tigers" but it's ok to eradicate a snake. why not try to eradicate mosquitos. They kill more people worldwide from Malaria than Burms do. I know, I know, I'm preaching to the choir. Just ranting, that's all...


Rob

...and dogs? What about dogs? ..and cars? What about ..wait.. the car can't kill you unless there's an idiot behind the wheel, being wreckless... so what about idiots.. ?

NOW we're preachin' to the choir!

When some of these foolish media and political type folks finally figure out that poorly kept Reticulated Pythons, Anacondas, larger than average Boa constrictors.. are all capable of the same things they claim Burms are... and that they aren't all one and the same...... THEN they'll start trying to ban them, too! And I can promise you, there will be some Burm enthusiasts that won't be "big enough" to come forward and fight for YOUR rights ..after you gladly sold us out ..or threw us under the bus. I know I will have to think it over a few times, before I will fight anymore.

[wolfy-hound]

Yeah, all us Ball python folks are selling the burm keepers out, that's why you see all these threads saying 'Please call and object to HR2811".

Apparently the massive effort of calling and faxing(which costs some of us money to do) doesn't matter, because we won't automatically bash USARK. If we can defeat the measure entirely, that would be the ideal. If we have to slide to banning importation of burms, that's better by FAR than a ban on all burms.

I'd prefer they leave all of them alone. Of all the giants, burmese are the best suited to be a pet, IMO. They seem more placid and tolerant than the others. I don't keep burms, or any giants, and I don't intend to. But I made all my calls and all that, to try to keep the legislation from passing.

I think a LOT of the people on here called too. I wouldn't call that "selling you out".

That said, I have not agreed with some of what USARK has done. When they got legislation done in carolina about regulating ROC there, I do not remember receiving any updates about "Here's what we're proposing", but only heard after the fact. I prefer to know what the organization I'm supporting is doing BEFORE they do it. Just saying.

[ColinWeaver]

Yeah, all us Ball python folks are selling the burm keepers out, that's why you see all these threads saying 'Please call and object to HR2811".

I just got a voice mail from a friend who happens to be a medium-sized ball python breeder. The gist of it: "Whew! Ball pythons are safe!" I was disappointed by his excitement. He is missing out on the big picture.

Not being able to hear what ball pythons keepers said when they made their phone calls I can still say with confidence that if they used the words scripted by USARK then they were serving their own interests as ball python folk, not the Burmese python community. There is no pride in that.

If you called and asked a House delegate to switch the terminology from "pythons" to "burmese pythons" then you should go to bed tonight knowing that you threw a colleague out of a lifeboat to make room for yourself.

A post on this forum that I read earlier today reflects the general feeling of the ball python community; that we will always prevail in this onslaught of legislation because our snakes are small, relatively harmless and, to the best of my knowledge, not crawling around in the Everglades. But rest assured, exotic animals are not safe. The biggest and easiest target is going on the block tomorrow.

Do you remember how you felt when HR669 was on the table (and it's not gone forever)? I was sick to my stomach. Imagine how Burmese python lovers feel right now. And also take a moment to imagine how they feel about the rest of the python owners calling to get their own names taken off the list. How can they be anything but furious with ball python owners right now?

[jglass38]

Colin,

You seem to know a lot on this subject. I have a question. I assume Burms are under fire because of their prevalence in the Glades. Are other larger constrictors being found there as well? Afrocks, Retics, Anacondas, Boas? If so, why are Burms the sacrificial lambs?

Jamie

[Russ Lawson]

I just got a voice mail from a friend who happens to be a medium-sized ball python breeder. The gist of it: "Whew! Ball pythons are safe!" I was disappointed by his excitement. He is missing out on the big picture.

Not being able to hear what ball pythons keepers said when they made their phone calls I can still say with confidence that if they used the words scripted by USARK then they were serving their own interests as ball python folk, not the Burmese python community. There is no pride in that.

If you called and asked a House delegate to switch the terminology from "pythons" to "burmese pythons" then you should go to bed tonight knowing that you threw a colleague out of a lifeboat to make room for yourself.

A post on this forum that I read earlier today reflects the general feeling of the ball python community; that we will always prevail in this onslaught of legislation because our snakes are small, relatively harmless and, to the best of my knowledge, not crawling around in the Everglades. But rest assured, exotic animals are not safe. The biggest and easiest target is going on the block tomorrow.

Do you remember how you felt when HR669 was on the table (and it's not gone forever)? I was sick to my stomach. Imagine how Burmese python lovers feel right now. And also take a moment to imagine how they feel about the rest of the python owners calling to get their own names taken off the list. How can they be anything but furious with ball python owners right now?

I can only speak for myself as a ball python breeder, but the letters I faxed were all my own, and requested for the bill to be thrown out all together. I know a lot of good guys who breed the big constrictors, and eventually plan to do so myself, if only with the dwarf varieties, and I would never do anything that would risk the future of their breeding projects. I can only hope we get this committee to take expert testimony before voting on this bill. For the sake of the future of the reptile industry as a whole...

[Sam Bearden]

Here is a link. Not sure if it has been posted yet but Hey if it has let's post it again. http://judiciary.house.gov/about/members.html
Here are all the members if you click the link under the members name you go to their page and can email them. Please help. I know right now everyone is safe except Burms and Rocks but please once our's are out of the way your pets may be next.

I am asking anyone and everyone to please do for the Burm guys and the Rock people what you would want us to do if it was your python with it's head on the block.

I would be there and I would do everything I have been doing for the Burms.

[icygirl]

This thread makes me depressed. Not because of anything people here have said. But because it seems that we, as snake keepers, are up against people [politicians] who do not read, do not educate themselves on the facts, and do not even care about what they are doing, so long as it "sounds good" to voters. This whole debate about whether or not we compromise with them - the politicians! When really, everyone here knows that the compromise point is moot, that the whole bill is garbage, and that banning anything doesn't make any sense whatsoever. But truly, I don't think USARK is anti-burm owners, and I don't think they intend to throw burms on the chopping block. I think that they believe that, because of the little girl's death and the swarm of media attention given to the situation in the Everglades, that SOMETHING's gotta go, and that politicians won't be able to handle a lack of flashy legislation to boast about... so maybe a ban on the import of burms would be something we could withstand. I'm not even sure what I think anymore, just that, why oh WHY must we have to try and convince a proverbial brick wall of our ideas...



New idea... let's just have Greg Graziani run for Senator and replace Bill Nelson. I think that will solve everything!

[Denial]

Colin,

You seem to know a lot on this subject. I have a question. I assume Burms are under fire because of their prevalence in the Glades. Are other larger constrictors being found there as well? Afrocks, Retics, Anacondas, Boas? If so, why are Burms the sacrificial lambs?

Jamie

Well as of now rocks are not safe either. And I assure you retics and anacondas will be sure to follow! And just wait until the hunters in the glades looking for giant pythons pull out some 6 foot redtails! Then they will be on the block also

[Raptor]

Honestly. You lot are bickering like a bunch of children, and that's sad coming from me, since I know I'm younger than a lot of people here. Instead of sitting here arguing, you could be out spreading the word. Going to pet shops and places that carry snake supplies, putting up flyers, etc. Yes, I know it's a bit late for all that, but that's what you should have been doing instead of sitting and arguing.

Yes. Banning the importation is not something we want, but it's a hell of a lot better than them being banned outright. Life is unfortunately, full of compromises. You learn to either compromise or deal with the alternative which is usually a lot worse.

Before you jump me, yes, I called everyone on the list Monday, including my state reps (who weren't on the list, however, one of them is on the community, Jim Inhofe, fyi). No, I wasn't able to call the extended list today, due to having an extremely busy day, no I won't be able to call tomorrow morning due to how early it will be here (I doubt my attempts at being coherent would succeed).

Bottom line: arguing isn't going to help anyone, especially the species you don't want banned.