Terrible and Avoidable Tragedy

[tbowman]

Who is calling for a realistic and minimalist permit system?

I've seen many respectable hot keepers recommend it. Such as Al Coritz and If I recall correctly Jim Harrison. It's also been brought up by a lot of Large Constrictor keepers.

I see groups trying to ban all exotic pets, including reptiles, and they are having success at the local, state, and federal levels. This isn't some tinfoil hat conspiracy theory... this is real and it is happening. They will smile, shake your hand on a minimalist system, and then will push for more the second it's in place.

Just because I don't agree with what you perceive to be the solution, does NOT mean I am unaware of the current campaigns being driven by Animal Rights groups and other organizations who have been trying for some time to get rid of us.

When has a realistic system ever been in place? From my point of view, a realistic permit system for these types of animals would only make it more difficult to pass further legislation against them.

I have the perfect way to differentiate between responsible owners and the people who are doing it wrong. It won't take any additional regulations and will have a profound effect on those who are behaving irresponsibly. It's called charging such people with public endangerment, involuntary homicide, assault, etc. when such an action is called for. It's the exact same system used for dog and livestock owners who are held accountable if their animals cause injury or death. Prison and/or loss of your house depending on the level of negligence will differentiate between owners real quick.

I don't have the numbers but I'm quite sure a significantly greater number of people are killed or injured by just pitbulls than by all captive exotics combined every year in America... do we need a nationwide permit system for pitbull ownership or is it enough to hold irresponsible pitbull owners accountable when injuries occur?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-daughter.html


Nothing is going to stop Animal Rights Groups from proposing legislation. It will be harder for them to be turned into law with some legislation already in place on certain species.

I don't agree that we should have to have a permit system in place for any of these animals, but that's the world we live in.

PitBulls are still mammals, and as such they are viewed by the general populous in a completely different light than any of our reptiles.

If we did everything the same for mammals as we do for reptiles, millions of people wouldn't be letting their cats out every night, we'd have feral cat roundups, and it'd be a federal offense to transport them across state lines.