Trying to take a different look at proposed bans (LONG)

[Gorgias]

If this is a good enough reason for us to not be allowed to own exotics, then no animal ownership should be allowed by any person for any reason. Yes, I'm including farmers too. That means we'll all have to go vegan. The fact is, there are "mind blowing" cases of negliect and abuse of all kinds of animals. The cute furry are not exempt from it. But you don't see people proposing that we outlaw dog & cat ownership.

Actually there are! Gary Francione is a professor of law and philosophy at Rutgers, and is big in the Animal Rights movement, and is an abolitionist. Meaning he believes that only when we are no longer allowed to own animals will we stop harming them. The way I see it this one of two logical conclusions if you accept that should not suffer. The other is the Kantian view that animals are objects, but we should treat them will because doing otherwise would cause us to lose our humanity. But these are absolute ideas, and our world is a mesh of beliefs, exceptions, and contradictions. I believe we can come to a acceptable middle ground.

It is really scary when even people in the hobby begin to fall for their propaganda.

I know it seems that way, but honestly I'm just trying to see things from an objective point of view.

This is EXACTLY what the supporters of this law want! This will not stop them from passing the law. If you think it should not be passed because it is unrealistic that the USFW could possibly do a good job of evaluating all these species in only 30 months, then you should be writing to your senators and representatives and everyone else you can think of, and telling them not to pass this law for this very reason. Don't count on them to figure it out. They probably don't care one way or the other, so if the only people they hear from are the ones pushing the law, you can bet it will be passed.

Nothing wrong with being proactive! My point is that if all exotics were banned almost all the pet industry would go down, most of the money is made from supplies. These large chains and production companies are owned by bigger corporations who DO have influence. I agree politicians don't really care, but they are not stupid either. Everyone one of them has a staff who research these things, see how much the bill itself would cost, look at the impact of it, and weigh how the vote will affect the politician's image. They will know if it would affect a business that contribute money to them or their party. The party wont bite the hand that feeds, and most politicians will not break party lines. It would be political suicide for either party to side with activist groups, pass expensive legislation, and destroy a multi-billion dollar industry in this financial situation. That would make the news for sure.

I'm glad you realize that. But does that mean we should just lie down and accept it? I hardly think so. It just means we have to get ourselves organized, and be just as persistent and undaunted as they are.

Exotic owners are the minority here, with little representation (I have no idea how big or powerful PIJAC is) going against strong lobbies and organizations who have huge budgets and employ tons of legal professionals. HSUS is huge and well known. They even receive federal money I believe. They are not above spreading misinformation and hype to get their point across. They are also to some extent, a middle ground. They accept (publicly) that animal testing/slaughter/use goes on and try only to regulate it and make it humane. I know this may not be the true intentions or actions of HSUS, but its what their mission statements says, and most people do not research these things. Standing up and uniting is fine, but it needs to be accepted that just saying our rights are being violated is not enough and will not be heard. The exotic scene as a whole needs to clean the dirt from the closet and prove to America that exotics can be responsibly kept.

Does that mean that all large and dangerous dogs will eventually be banned also? I hope not, and I doubt it, because dog owners are not going to just accept it. We shouldn't either.

Indeed they will not! The extremist wing of animal rights will never fully get their way, it would affect the majority in a significant way. Exotics are the minority and while people may not want their dogs gone, they do have animal right sympathies and will not think all to hard about this.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! As you have already pointed out, they are persistent. They won't stop just because we give them half of the cake. They will continue trying to take away the other half. Thinking this way is very dangerous.

Like I've said, the fringe will never be happy. They will also never win. If we can appeal to the majority of animal rights supporters and prove we aren't so bad we can win them over.

Glad we agree on one thing tho