Holy crap!!

[artgecko]

Wow... this just goes to show how ignorant most politicians are, unfortunately, I don't think that ignorance is limited to reptiles. bcr229- I hope this does not get signed by the governor... I will check out the link you provided (can't remember if it is on this thread or the other one) and try to write something coherent.

On the slightly OT topic of laws similar to this, this again makes me lean even more strongly towards libertarianism... The government slowly strips away rights and no one notices until it is their turn on the chopping block.

NH93- Your questions are interesting.. I think it has to do with personal responsibility vs. dependence on the state. The more you depend on the state to "keep you safe" the more you expect them to legislate everything. To quote Benjamin Franklin: "They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

You opinion is also effected by how the laws in your country affect you.. i.e. The laws you stated are against giant constrictors and crocdilians... Do you want a retic? Did you own one and then have your right to keep it taken away? I'm guessing no.... So you don't feel very strongly about that law. What if your province passed a new law saying that you could not own any snake over 6' like the WV law, meaning that you could not keep adult female BPs, would you be against it? This is like the saying about the Nazis' rise to power and the German people's reaction to it:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."

Basically, the government will make laws that affect small groups... Like herpers and no one will speak out because they don't own reptiles. This isn't because the laws are right, it's because the law effects only a few. If the WV government or your local government made a law outlawing keeping dogs over, say, 60lbs, because they are "dangerous" if not confined and handled correctly there would be a huge public outcry because the law effects many... And such a law would have more basis than the one passed in WV considering just how many people get mauled by dogs on a daily basis... we had a small child killed here locally two weeks ago and another story yesterday about a severe (but not deadly mauling). Such a law would take away the freedom of both the responsible and irresponsible dog owners, thus punishing people because their dog "could" potentially hurt someone.

Again, bcr229- I apologize for my long and somewhat OT response... Government nonsense like this just makes me so angsty.. And what I hate most is that people don't realize that their freedom is being stripped away. I will try and do some research on numbers and use the form on your governor's page and respond. I'd like to "know the facts" before writing him. I feel for you and your collection, no one should have to worry that what they are doing "might" become illegal.. Is there a "grandfather" clause in the law? I would think that it would be necessary with something like this.