Every email address from the Govener on down got my letter.

As a snake keeper, horticulturist, pet-owner with 10 years of experience maintaining and working with snakes, I was astounded to learn of a law proposed by Representative Hilderbran of Kerrville, Texas that will remove the rights of Texans to own snakes.

How can this be anything more than flatulent legislation-all air and stinks? What in the world can be accomplished by this unexplained and unfounded proposal? Is Hilderbran so bored with being a representative that he now chooses to infringe on the rights of law-abiding Texans instead of actually working on some of the problems of this State?

What is next on his agenda? Should ranchers with exotic game be alarmed that Hilderbran is going after them next? Antelopes are out in the pasture and in direct contact with Texas ecology, after all.

What danger does captive snakes present to Texas ecology? Not one species of non-native snake has ever been established in Texas in a viable wild population, unlike blackbuck antelope that exists in the tens of thousands in the Texas countryside.

Not one innocent member of the public has ever been injured by an escaped snake, unlike the documented predations of pit bulls and other large dogs.

Texas needs representatives that work on the real problems of this State-not a liberal animal rights front man who is trying to remove the rights and the pets of taxpaying Texas citizens. Please help to squash this ridiculous proposed legislation before it becomes yet one more piece of unnecessary legislation costing the Citizens of Texas millions of dollars. Let Representative Hilderbran know he has embarrassed and wasted his position as elected representative.

Sincerely,
Ed Deupree , Owner of Wildmorph Pythons.