Connecticut Legislative Alert

[EricRoscoe2]

If you or any arachnid keepers you know reside in Connecticut, please be aware that there is a politician by the name of Blementhal who wants to pass a ban on all arachnids, and many other species. This is being discussed by the Environment committee.

Here is his testimony and the proposed language to the law.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ENVdata/Tmy/2009SB-00994-R000309-Richard Blementhal, Attorney General-TMY.PDF

This proposal will bany MANY species of reptiles and amphibians. It also looks like savannah cats and many other species would be banned as well. Please spread the word and help to stop this today!!

(a) No person shall possess a potentially dangerous animal identified in this subsection. For the purposes of this section, the following wildlife or any hybrid thereof shall be considered potentially dangerous animals.

(14) the alligatoridae, including but not limited to the American alligator and caimen
(15) the crocodylidae, including but not limited to the crocodile
(16) the gavialidae, including but not limited to the gavial
(17) the elapidae, including but not limited to the cobras, coral snakes, mambas
(18) the viperidae) including but not limited to copperheads, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and other adders and vipers
(19) the rear fanged members of the colubridae in the genra lothornis, boiga, thelotornis, enhydris, dispholidus, clelia, rhabdophis, hydrodynastes, philodryas, and malpolon
(20) The Burmese/Indian, African Rock, amethystine, and reticulated of the family pythonidae
(21) the green, yellow, and dark spotted anacondas of the boidae
(22) the helodermatidae including but not limited to Gila monsters and beaded lizards
(23) the nile monitor, water monitor, blackthroat monitor, whitethroat monitor, crocodile monitor, and komodo dragon of the varanidae

In addition,
-any venomous species in the family arachnidea including but not limited to tarantulas and scorpions
-any poisonous species in the family dendrobatidae including but not limited to poison arrow frogs

 

[Sky`Scorcher]

Ouch, thats crazy! Damn irresponsible keepers!!

But its not my problem though, I just cant imagine that happening here :?

Goodluck guys!!

 

[bugguy1]

Doesn't CT already have some laws concerning tarantulas? I am in RI and used to work in a petstore and one of our live animal suppliers was out of CT. I had a conversation with our sales rep at the time on tarantulas and he said that though they could sell them, they couldn't sell them in CT (and that he himself couldn't legally keep them since he lived in CT).

 

[Bill S]

Another cowardly half-wit out to save the world.

Unfortunately, he probably sees himself as a great hero of humanity. And worse, he'll probably get the support of like-minded idiots. Best thing to do is get people to write letters and make phone calls to their representatives. Clubs, campus organizations and business groups who can be negatively impacted by such legislation should be contacted. (Although the commercial aspect should be the least of the reasons to block foolish legislation, it may be the most effective. In this economic situation we are facing, anything that negatively impacts businesses and has the potential to cost people jobs and governments tax revenues might get the attention of legislators. When people do contact their representatives, try and get them to address a wide range of impacts - personal, scientific, commercial, tax revenue and "votes". (This last is the life-blood of politicians, so let them know they stand to lose or gain votes according to their stances on this.)

(22) the helodermatidae including but not limited to Gila monsters and beaded lizards

OK. This item in particular caught my attention. "Helodermatidae ... not limited to Gila monsters and beaded lizards"???? There are no other helodermatids other than Gila monsters and beaded lizards. :?

 

[Moltar]

The very fact that tarantulas are listed as a dangerous animal displays the ignorance of the persons who wrote this legislature. What a rediculous piece of trash legislation. This is just a publicity grab in the wake of the chimp attack.

Sickening...

 

[GrammatonCleric]

I guess they also don't know that Dart Frogs are harmless in captivity.

 

[Travis K]

If I lived in CT I would go and pay this guy a visit. And discuss the issue with him in person. I can see why some of the items listed should be on that list but why not shot for permits instead of banning. I thouhgt I lived in America? And no I do not think we ought to be forced to seek permits for owning Ts.

 

[the nature boy]

They can't inforce this. You can get Ts in the mail and no one will be the wiser. You could also easily drive out of state (not a big deal in Connecticut--were not talking about being in the middle of Texas) and hit a lps. They're certainly not going to get warrants and take the time to search homes.

 

[T_DORKUS]

I thouhgt I lived in America?

You must be referring to the old America- the land of the free! ;P

 

[DreadLobster]

Isn't Connecticut where the chimp attack occurred? I would bet money that incident was the inspiration for a crackdown like this... yet I don't see anything about primates... which we all know WILL rip your face of.... if you have them medicated and treat them like humans. :wall:

I do not understand the way people react.

 

[wedge07]

You must be referring to the old America- the land of the free! ;P

+1

Slowly they are taking away our civil rights for our own "protection".

 

[Steven Valys]

Ct does suck with some of it's current legislation. Most of the species on that proposed list are already "banned." Every state has it's flaws though. The proper spelling of his last name is "Blumenthal"

http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=435506&A=3673

 

[LirvA]

It will never pass IMO.

 

[Steven Valys]

It will never pass IMO.

It most likely will. The majority of Reps. always vote with the Attorney General. Enforcing such a ridiculous law would generate quite a bit of money for the state. They already nabbed a guy last week for possession of a Siamang Gibbon.

 

[NixHexDude]

The stupidity of politicians never ends. It's all the same reason I can't get alcohol on Sunday in Pennsylvania. Idiots...what can one do?

 

[DanHalen]

Well, at least he'd still allow captive scolopendra

 

[Sterlingspider]

Kind of ridiculous to ban

any venomous species in the family arachnidea including but not limited to tarantulas and scorpions

when the average person already has more of them living in the corners of their house then the vast majority of of us ever keep as "pets".

As the original link did not seem to copy correctly...
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ENVdata/...-Richard Blementhal, Attorney General-TMY.PDF

Make sure you know where the extension wand for your vacuum is CT folks or you may be in for a world of legal trouble!

 

[ghost6303]

fixed the link from the first post.

I live in connecticut and urge everyone to contact members of the attorney generals office and speak their mind on this piece of legislation. this is a rediculous piece of garbage they are trying to make a law. it outlaws virtualy all spiders, snakes, frogs, etc. many which are even NATIVE to this area and not actualy dangerous.

the law makes it illegal to own a rattlesnake, however if there is one living behind your house its fine. same with foxes, copperheads, etc.


http://www.phone.ct.gov/EmpByDept.aspx?deptid=OAG

 

[treeweta]

utterly idiotic.

esp as pretty much every arachnid has venom of some type, an indefensible position considering that there are hundreds of such venomous creatures in most homes.

as you are aware the amount of ignorance regarding spiders and animals in general is almost incomprehensible, a brief watch of various videos on youtube with tarantulas and the comments left does not give confidence in my fellow species. people in local government are not immune to being idiots in this regard either.

 

[Anastasia]

Aggghh, That didnt took long at all
Am sure it will pass
own a Chimp, Rhino, Elephant or Tiger and Lion as a pet is bit overboard,
even so Many people get killed and injured by horses and those are still most popular pet after dog and cat
Oh well
I didnt see anything about bugs, spiders and tarantulas tho
PS:
In addition,
-any venomous species in the family arachnidea including but not limited to tarantulas and scorpions
-any poisonous species in the family dendrobatidae including but not limited to poison arrow frogs
Now that is totally stupid, poison frogs?? '''''Dart frogs also do not synthesize their poisons, but sequester the chemicals from prey items, such as ants and mites. Because of this, captive-bred animals do not contain significant levels of toxins.""""