Hold on a sec......Originally Posted by CCfive
ARE YOU SERIOUS? Let's take away motorcycles, anything that's got a sharp edge. You can't take away people's rights because there are a few idiots abroad.
What about the resposible, educated keepers? Where does it end?
As a responsible keeper, I would have no problem applying for a permit and having my snakes chipped if need be.
As a responsible keeper, I also realize I cannot compare a snake to a motorcycle. My irresponsibility with a motorcycle will not result in the suffering of an animal. It could result in my death and the risk of injury to someone else, but that's an ethical argument of a different type.
I do not believe that any Tom, Richard or Harry should be able to buy a rock python. If Tom, Richard or Harry gets killed by his rock python, I could care less.
However Tom, Richard or Harry's inability to properly care for his giant snake will result in a couple of other things - (1) pain, suffering and potentially death to the snake and (2) an assault on my ability to keep my snakes.
No one can argue that giant constrictors should be kept by only keepers with sufficient knowledge and means to properly care for them - so why do we so quickly defend the right of ownership for any idiot who can afford the price of entry?
After breeding snakes for a number of years and after seeing how often those animals ended up forgotten and mistreated, I do NOT support the right for any moron who can afford an animal to keep one.
I fully support the right for responsible keepers to keep whatever they want.
The hobby has put itself in this situation. While it's all fine and dandy to blame the burmese issue on a Hurricane and make a half-a$$ed attempt to remove human responsibility from the equation, it does not begin to explain the countless other invasive species in south Florida that have ended up there as a result of irresponsible idiots in the exotic pet trade.
Do I support bans? No. I do support responsible pet ownership. Sadly, this hobby has proven time and time again that responsibility is not our strong suit.
The Federal Government has just shown that they CAN take away your "rights" with regards to giant constrictors because of a hobby rife with idiots. Continue to shovel your money towards groups that are taking credit for doing something they did not.
In the meantime I predict those efforts will get us nowhere. In fact, I predict things will get a lot worse before they get better. This is a stepping stone to more restrictions and legislation.
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