Why?

[Russ Lawson]

Irresponsible owners will still be irresponsible, so I don't agree this will make reptile keepers look any different. Florida has even more restrictive regulations, but that obviously didn't stop that idiot down in Florida from having his python escape and get blamed for killing his step daughter. IMO, I only see negatives:

1) Those who want to destroy the hobby will keep pushing for further, more restrictive legislation. This only makes it easier for them.

2) This vague bill opens up a whole can of worms as far as what safe and responsible handling means. I'm scared to do my presentations at my kids's schools now!

3) Irresponsible owners will still be irresponsible owners.

4) Responsible owners will pay the price both literally and figuratively.

5) Another controlling gov't entity needs to be created to enforce the new laws. More tax money, more ill informed gov't workers who could potentially take your snakes, etc.

Also, I don't think it's reasonable to put hots and large constrictors in the same category. Compared to baseball bats, lightning, kitchen knives, cars, and
swimming pools, large constrictor snakes present ZERO risk to the public and only a ridiculously small risk to even to the owners. We might as well make laws banning going outside (to avoid some idiot from going outside in a lightning storm.)




Thanks,
Ed

Florida also did a pathetic job of informing its general public they were passing ROC laws, but that point is moot. I was angry about them when they passed because now I have to jump through a few more hoops to get dwarf burms and retics. Again I'd rather the state have these laws than an all out ban. I'm not here to argue or anything, I was just trying to point out where USARK might be coming from with this type of legislation. I don't necessarily agree with it the way it is written, but from what I hear, the wording is vague, which i see as a huge negative.

As far as making our enemies' jobs easier, I think state-level legislation could potentially do the opposite. If the federal government sees the states all coming up with their own legislation, they might determine it not to be worth the time or money to enact new laws on the federal level regarding it. At least ideally I can see it working that way. I pretty much agree with you on all of the other points, but having a permitting system in place would at least prevent some irresponsible people from obtaining animals they shouldn't have. Additionally, I don't really see a reason to be deterred from doing demonstrations with your animals as long as you're not doing some thrill show. Educational demonstrations with these animals at schools and such are a very good thing to keep doing as far as I'm concerned. Keep removing bits of the senseless phobias people have about our animals.

Additionally I didn't mean to come off like I was putting hots and large constrictors in the same category. They are very different. Actually neither is a public threat with proper caging. The reason I included the two in the same sentence is because it still takes a certain type of person to properly care for a large constrictor, and I don't think people who just buy them for the fear factor should be keeping them. I do agree with mainbutter about laws "protecting people from themselves" so to speak. They are stupid and unnecessary, and I am entirely opposed to them.

To be honest, I would rather see no more laws restricting the reptile industry passed anywhere. Unfortunately I just can't realistically see that. The media has already blown this far out of proportion into some huge problem. The politicians aren't going to just sit there and this go without passing some law because they think it will make them look good and get them re-elected. It's unfair and unfortunate, but that's just how the system is. The best we can do is do our best to educate them about our animals, and fight every law the crazy AR people bring up.

I wish those of you in SC best of luck fighting to get this thing thrown out or revised, but like I said if it's a $50 permit to keep a large constrictor, it's a compromise I'm willing to take over a potential ban any day.