I Approve of Most of H.R. 669

[Dizzlen07]

Ok, stupid post....To many variables, true. I live in Florida and their is already a population of pythons, iguanas, monitors and other reptiles. Thats what made me think of this. Your right. It would be stupid to let any reptile out in Colorado and many other states. They would have no chance. But I know in Florida they would have a great chance to survive instead of not being fed in captivity.

Corvid, Maybe you took the appropriate precautions (like myself) becuase you obviously don't live off your reptile hobby like a many others. But how can you say someone that has a succusful bussiness that goes under due to a bill is irresposible??? You missed the point.

But anyway, everyone else,sorry. Stupid post. I have no shame.

[Jerhart]

Dizzlen, here is an example of how big of an impact a non-native species can have on our ecology.

Believe it or not....earthworms are not native to America. They came from Europe and Asia. Well, here in Minnesota without worms, fallen leaves decompose slowly, creating a spongy layer of organic "duff." This duff layer is the natural growing environment for native woodland wildflowers. It also provides habitat for ground-dwelling animals and helps prevent soil erosion.

Invading earthworms eat the leaves that create the duff layer and are capable of eliminating it completely. Big trees survive, but many young seedlings perish, along with many ferns and wildflowers. Some species return after the initial invasion, but others disappear. In areas heavily infested by earthworms, soil erosion and leaching of nutrients may reduce the productivity of forests and ultimately degrade fish habitat. [mndnr]

So...you can see the impact a tiny earthworm can have on an entire forrest and it's ecology, effect even fish.

Now imagine what is happening to the florida ecology with the Burms and Iguanas roaming freely?

[Dizzlen07]

Yes, Burms and Iguanas are deffinatly affecting Florida. I am going to look into this alittle more just for my own good. It was a stupid post, I think I mainly typed it out of anger after reading the bill again and too many glasses of wine and thought hmmmm....what harm would my ball pythons do in the wild if it came down to that. Bottom line is I would not want the goverment or anybody else trying to take my animals away because they are illegal.

Stupid post and I appologize.

[Jerhart]

Yes, Burms and Iguanas are deffinatly affecting Florida. I am going to look into this alittle more just for my own good. It was a stupid post, I think I mainly typed it out of anger after reading the bill again and too many glasses of wine and thought hmmmm....what harm would my ball pythons do in the wild if it came down to that. Bottom line is I would not want the goverment or anybody else trying to take my animals away because they are illegal.

Stupid post and I appologize.

No need to apologize. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And psshhhh too much wine? Isn't a glass a wine suppose to be good for you....so what will 4,5,8 extra glasses hurt?

[Jay_Bunny]

Ok, releasing snakes into the wild is the most irresponsible thing you could ever do with your snakes, no matter where you live.

As for the bill. The government will take my pets from my cold dead hands. My animals are my children and I will fight them every day of my life if this bill passes. I'm so tired of all these idiotic bills being introduced. I'm tired of the government always sticking their nose in our business. People should never fear their government. The government should fear the people.

[sg1trogdor]

I knew many wouldn't agree but no big deal. But answer this.

Say you have 50 plus ball pythons and make an average income with your full time job. How do you feed these ball pythons if this bill passes.

What do the full time breeders do if this passes?

And I should have phrased that alittle better. I'm not talking about huge snakes that do pose a threat to wildlife but smaller snakes/lizards.

Thats exactly what they expect us to do (killing them that is). You have to understand that the people proposing this bill arent interested in the human factor of these actions only the impact that said animal have on the environment. In other words they dont give a hoot about us and just want our animals completely gone from the country. If they have to ruin thousands of lives in the process and put who knows how many thousands of people out of work they really dont care. As long as they get their way they are happy. God I love all the bureaucratic BS in this country.

[Colin Vestrand]

Dizzlen, here is an example of how big of an impact a non-native species can have on our ecology.

Believe it or not....earthworms are not native to America. They came from Europe and Asia. Well, here in Minnesota without worms, fallen leaves decompose slowly, creating a spongy layer of organic "duff." This duff layer is the natural growing environment for native woodland wildflowers. It also provides habitat for ground-dwelling animals and helps prevent soil erosion.

Invading earthworms eat the leaves that create the duff layer and are capable of eliminating it completely. Big trees survive, but many young seedlings perish, along with many ferns and wildflowers. Some species return after the initial invasion, but others disappear. In areas heavily infested by earthworms, soil erosion and leaching of nutrients may reduce the productivity of forests and ultimately degrade fish habitat. [mndnr]

So...you can see the impact a tiny earthworm can have on an entire forrest and it's ecology, effect even fish.

Now imagine what is happening to the florida ecology with the Burms and Iguanas roaming freely?

all the more reason to root for the little guys - Dekay's brown snake... my favorite colubrid!

[sg1trogdor]

People should never fear their government. The government should fear the people.

Well said but thats would only be the case in a true democratic nation. Which to me seems like we are drifting further and further away from every year with the taking of more and more of our constitutionally given rights...... Oh wait not rights I mean privileges. As the great George Carlin once said " right aren't rights if someone can take them away. They're privileges".

[Tyler_Royality]

I never said I didnt sent out an email letter! never did I say this.. I voiced my opinion on this bill and how it will NOT pass.

I am kinda dissapointed that I voiced my opinion, and thoughts on how this bill cant possibly pass due to pet stores plundering and people losing millions of dollars and I get labeled as the bad guy who didnt support his community by sending letters and making his voice heard.. I never once said I did not voice my opinion against the idiots who created the bill in the first place!

one of the reasons this bill is hogwash and will never pass is because of us. The reason I made my initial reply is because I see this happen.... every.... damn.... year.....

a new bill is created to doom our hobby and love for the animal kingdom in some way.. and it never happends.. yet people keep wasting their time with trying to get something to pass... im just fed up with hearing about it and having to deal with it u know?

I never wanted to be the bad guy here lol.. just letting everyone know that .. like I said.. IMO.. this isnt gunna happen man :]

[matt71915]

I agree i dont think it will happen. That doesnt mean im not concerned about the possibility of it passing. And i have also taken action and have done my part in helping it so it wont pass.

So say it does pass. Say they take everyones reptiles, what are they going to do? Along with making more people jobless, ending a multimillion dollar industry...etc they will have to pay to humanly put down every reptile in the U.S. This is just me but if they take my reptiles im not going to be the one paying to put them down. When i say that i won't pay to put that down i am putting my love for my reptiles aside for my anger towards the government.

also, look at the studies that have been done to show the effect pets have on people. Basicly all good effects. So they take away pets and americans will get more stressed and add the overweight problem we already have.

There are many more effects that this will have other than the ones that have already been stated.

Thats just more of my opinion on this idiotic bill

Matt