This is true,
And our reactions, points and counter points should be professional, educated and well thought out without too much emotion. There is real science behind our cause. WE should be the ones who are able to debunk what "they" are saying. Swearing and ranting and responding with unbridled emotion will only make us look like the "stereotypes" they want us to look like.
A lot of the momentum from this action is built on hype from lobby groups that have a lot of money to spend, A LOT! Enough to get the ear of politicians. The general public may not be interested in, or even know about what snakes/reptiles are being banned, but they can catch something on TV and quickly decide "That's the truth" and take a side.
Some members in our community are true, scientific experts in the biology of snakes and other reptiles. (Herpetologists) and many others are extremely well versed in the captive nature of these animals and have been working with and breeding them for decades, making them experts in their own right.
Hopefully we can "WOW" a few people with educated comments and do our best to overturn then latest ban, but just like the lobby groups and their supporters, we need to fund our group, USARK, with enough money to battle back.
My hope is USARK can present some well spoken, credible/knowledgable and reasonable people to represent the hobby for the rebuttal.