I Attended the HR2811 Hearing on July 29th

[asplundii]

Texas got freezing temperatures this year; snow actually. If there was viable scientific evidence my pythons could cause ecological problems, then yes, I would relocate them.

Obviously you do not know much about the environments that carpet pythons inhabit. Better do your research and then pack those babies up and ship them to someone else.

Where is the scientific evidence that points to the Florida Burmese populations causing a net ecological and/or economic loss? Point me to that peer-reviewed scientific paper please.

There is not one. We all know that. (Well all of us except him it seems...)

He can't - but isn't it ironic that he requires scientific proof to give up HIS animals?

It is ironic. What I find more ironic is that the young lad here lives in Texas where road cruising is illegal and yet he actively practices the habit and posts pics on every forum he is on about it and then defends his actions when called out on it. And here he is telling all of us what ought to be illegal in other states...

I got freezing temps several times this year here in Florida too, but you want it illegil in the whole state. So since YOUR animals could live in parts of texas, you should immediately relocate them.

Like I said above, he needs to learn a little bit more about the native habitats of the carpet python he keeps

The paper that was linked written by the Barkers is biased and non-scientific.

I don't have a paper to link, I'm sorry.

Well I posted a link to a scientifically valid peer reviewed paper. You might want to read it and get yourself properly educated on the matter before you run your mouth off.

But whatever, I have my opinion and you have yours.

Yes, we have educated opinions and you have propaganda-based ignorant opinions.

I actually want to reword what I said earlier.

In an ideal world, people would never have taken animals from the wild to put in cages, to keep as pets, etc. Hence, I said that ideally all animals that could cause problems would be banned.

I'm not saying that's a solution. Banning pythons is definitely not the ideal solution, but if it's been a ban or no ban, I choose ban.

I like the microchipping idea, but then again, an escaped python could already cause problems before capture.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want a ban on pythons, even though it seems like I do.

Between the two choices right now though, I choose ban.

Based on what you said there, then by your own words you ought not be keeping any pets. So, box them up and ship them out.

Personally, I think there are too many 'opinions' and not enough facts. Opinions are dictating this legislation.

It is like a battle of opinions...

I agree but I would add that it is also a battle of emotions. Fear and scare tactics are big power in this fracas we find ourselves in.

...someone needs to organize an effort to actually study the conditions these animals can actually endure. Then produce legislation based on fact.

They are doing that up in the Carolinas right now.

As of this moment, the only thing we know is that burms can survive in south Florida. I don't think that is enough support to ban them nationwide.

You are correct, it is not enough support to ban them. There is no justification for a ban, a ban is not going to fix the problem. What is needed is regulation. Something that works to keep impulse buying down and responsible, educated buying safe.