The thing about 100% enforcement for all exotics and the fact that it simply can't be enforced, which you have now brought to NATIONAL attention, is that the easiest thing to do to bring everyone into compliance, is simply to ban ALL exotics. You're on the slippery slope now due to YOUR ignorance of the rules.
I'm pretty sure you're not a bad guy, but you are throwing everyone under the bus to save your ass. The more your harp on, paraphrasing,"don't just go after me, those guys have frogs and those guys have squirrels and those folks over there, they keep hedgehogs and none of them have permits, how come I have to just for my snakes..." the more ammunition you're giving to peta and hsus and everyone else who doesn't like reptiles or any other animals. You may well get your permit, but at what cost?
How did they find out about your snakes?