Last Chance to stop the Python and Boa Ban!

[ConcinusMan]

They failed to take into account that as the global climate warms, heavier snows and freezes will happen in areas where it wouldn't normally happen. In fact, all manners of extreme weather will happen where it normally wouldn't.

Those snakes would be better off with a little global cooling.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Absolutely. This is the information that legislators and officials are using as a basis for their Lacey Act rule change, and other related attempts at banning large pythons. I'm glad we have USARK doing all it can on our behalf, because other reptiles will not be far behind. HSUS has an agenda, and it's got the ear of several influential politicians.

Frogs are next--in a move that seems reasonable, a proposed rule change will add all amphibians which have not been 'certified free of chytrid' to the Lacey Act's list of injurious species.
The question is, what will be necessary to certify an amphibian to be free of chytrid?

First they came for the large pythons...
then they came for the dart frogs...


GOOD NEWS, however, for those who meant to put in a comment on the python and boa rule change--USARK has succeeded in securing an extension for comments.
You now have another 30 days to make a comment on this rule change.

[ConcinusMan]

And I suppose if you're not a registered voter, your comment is moot.

I won't bother since I know the outcome has already been decided. If you disagree, you're living in fantasy land.

The comment period is just their way of throwing you a bone, and saying "good dog" for laying by your dish.

The comments will change nothing.

Present an overwhelming majority of voter power who also happen to love pythons, and think they shouldn't be banned, and the story takes a different turn altogether.

Call me a pessimist, but I don't think that's going to happen. If that was going to happen, we (the minority) wouldn't have any need to comment and we wouldn't be here right now discussing it.

[Stefan-A]

And I suppose if you're not a registered voter, your comment is moot.

I won't bother since I know the outcome has already been decided. If you disagree, you're living in fantasy land.

The comment period is just their way of throwing you a bone, and saying "good dog" for laying by your dish.

The comments will change nothing.

Present an overwhelming majority of voter power who also happen to love pythons, and think they shouldn't be banned, and the story takes a different turn altogether.

Call me a pessimist, but I don't think that's going to happen. If that was going to happen, we (the minority) wouldn't have any need to comment and we wouldn't be here right now discussing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWhLSORCwW0

[drache]

I liked that
thanks Stefan

[ConcinusMan]

That was very interesting. Just drives home my point. The letters pouring in calling for the ban have been piling up for years. Now there's a just relatively few, at the last minute calling to stop the ban. Unless the president of the United States decides to get a pet burmese python...

[WingedWolfPsion]

Why would you not be a registered voter?

[ConcinusMan]

There are a variety of reasons. My reason is I don't give a damn. Politics is a joke. Look where voting has taken us so far. Yeah, America is in real good shape. Thanks voters! good job!

I figure that my help is not needed. Things can go to hell in a handbasket with or without me.

I'm going to go out on limb here. Mark my words, the ban will happen. Maybe not this time, but it will happen, with or without your vote or comment.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Politics is a joke. Look where voting has taken us so far. Yeah, America is in real good shape. Thanks voters! good job!

/agrees

politics is the biggest joke in the world. I never have and
never will get tied up in the notion that wasting my time and thoughts on a bunch of greedy old white guys who are in it for themselves is going to do any sort of good. Because it's not... I see people that are SO tied up and so concerned with politics and to me it's a damned shame that they are wasting their time and energy like that... But to each his own I suppose.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Well, if any of this stuff gets passed, it won't be MY fault that it happened, then. Look in the mirror.

USARK and the efforts of everyone in the herp community stopped these bills the FIRST time through by speaking out. This means...you're wrong. Sorry.
When enough people make a stink, Politicians actually pay attention to that. The fight isn't over, but it is long and exhausting, and that's what HSUS and the promoters of these bills will use. As people lose interest and stop speaking out, the apparent resistance to the bill will evaporate--that's when it can become a law. Not now. We have several politicians on our side, and we have to keep showing them support, as well as blocking and delaying the things our opponents are trying to slip through.

This is the last thing I expected to be doing when I decided to breed reptiles for a living. If I don't do it, it's like giving up my future without a fight. I hate politics, too, but if I want to continue to keep reptiles, I have no choice. Obviously you two are willing to give up yours without saying a word. Trust me, your garter snakes aren't even remotely safe from all of this. HSUS has them on the chopping block, too. They know how to play the politics game, and they're getting things done.

People who think this is all useless...are frankly uneducated in how the system actually works, and what's more, they haven't been paying any attention at all (well, the latter does lead to the former). We wouldn't still have the right to keep Burms in most of the US right now if it weren't for USARK and the reptile community's small efforts at letter-writing and commenting.

I'm sorry you think that our only chance to continue legally keeping reptiles in the US is a waste of your time.