new NC snake law

[Skiploder]

I appreciate your mocking sarcasm but I am entitled to my opinion, so go force yours onto someone else... oh does the bill mention who will be coming into your house to make sure your following all regulations and how often?

The intent of the bill is to be proactive and head off more HR669-type legislation. Claiming you have an issue with a bill that requires keepers of potentially hazardous animals to act responsibly is silly.

Huffing and puffing about not wanting to be saddled with the government in your hobby is a waste of breath. I don't want to pay taxes - but I have to in order to keep from going to jail. I don't want to register my guns but I have to in order to legally own them.

Newsflash: The government is going to be in your hobby whether you like it or not. Even USARK, who some claim to seek no quarter, apparently recognize that simple fact. The proof? You and I are discussing it.

The whole reason why we are facing on onslaught of legislation is because people aren't acting responsibly and haven't been for some time. Go to FieldHerpForum and take a look at all the pictures in the latest Florida thread. Iguanas, water monitors, burmese pythons, peacock bass - I could go on. The fact is that the reptile community has to face the fact that we either help draft legislation that we can live with or suffer from legislation we can't.

The bill is badly written in spots - no one who reads it line for line can argue that. Whether you are pro or con on the bill there are problems with the text of the legislation. USARK is the self-anointed protectors of all things herp - people who have an issue with this bill should let USARK know so that they can amend it before the herp community of North Carolina is stuck with a self-inflicted law that causes as many headaches as it seeks to prevent.

Or worse - before this becomes a model bill for other states.

So if you think that the bill allows the jack-booted agents of the government to storm your house making sure your cages conform with the new law - then let the brave boys at USARK know that this part of the legislation needs to be clearly defined.

I live in California and am not affected by this bill. That hasn't stopped me from letting USARK know what I think about parts of their bill and what they need to change before they get my support.

You live in North Carolina. If this bill passes in it's current form, there is vagueness in the language and intent that could have some serious repercussions for you. My worthless opinion is that anyone who lives in NC and has issues with this should contact USARK and let them know....

From USARK's website:

SB307 Regulate Ownership & Use of Certain Reptiles, written by Herpers for Herpers, has just passed the North Carolina Senate and is headed for the House of Representatives. The USARK sponsored legislation was authored in partnership with NC PARC (Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation) and had input from the NC Zoo, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC Veterinary Medical Association, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, NC Dept. of Agriculture and private citizens. It was supported by the NC Animal Agriculture Community. It maintains the right of responsible reptile keepers to work with certain reptiles, while setting practical standards for secure caging, safety protocols, transport, anti-release provisions and escape recovery plans. It also sets penalties for negligence and other violations of protocol. Simple, straight forward and pragmatic; it is a model for state legislation around the country. Only Big 5 constrictors, venomous and crocodilians are affected by this bill.

This is just another example of how USARK continues to reverse trends and do the necessary hard work of the Herp Community. After years of losing ground to the Animal Rights Movement the Reptile Nation has finally come together. We now have our voice, and the voice of the Reptile Nation is USARK!