Important!!!

[super-pede]

H.R. 511:
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation of various injurious species of constrictor snakes.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-511

 

[Mojo Jojo]

I'm ok with this. There are some people that just shouldn't be allowed to own burmese pythons.

 

[super-pede]

That's true, some people shouldn't, but does that mean that we should stop importing because of a select few individuals?

 

[JC]

Alot of people shouldn't keep animals. Tarantulas are among these animals, but I don't think it fair to ban tarantulas because a group of irresponsible idiots made news.

 

[super-pede]

what about boids?

 

[JC]

what about boids?

lol. Yes, of course, responsible people should have the right to keep boids. I just used the tarantula example for relational purposes.

Are Brian Barczyk and Ralph Davis publicly addressing it yet?

 

[super-pede]

not sure. I just found out about this through the grapevine.

 

[Hedorah99]

I'm ok with this. There are some people that just shouldn't be allowed to own burmese pythons.

I gotta say I agree. And truthfully, and i know I will catch crap for this, there is NO reason at all for ANYONE to own one.

 

[JC]

I gotta say I agree. And truthfully, and i know I will catch crap for this, there is NO reason at all for ANYONE to own one.

Heh, I honestly am surprised about the responses I am seeing, especially the fact that it is coming from a tarantula forum.

In order for anyone to justify a ban, we need valid concrete evidence and fact that these animals present a danger to our community. The fear instilled by the media of the danger that these animals present is vastly exaggerated and needs some addressing by professional individuals in the field.

If we support the ban on these animals just based on the petty reasons presented, then we give leeway on bans of others species aswell without the proper research being done against keeping the animal.

 

[CFleming]

To say you are ok with it is very dangerous. They start with burmese, then its something else, then something else, until eventually EVERYTHING will be banned. These kinds of bills may not affect invert keepers yet, but they are next on the list. You have to understand who is really pushing these bills. It is animal rights groups. They use made up scientific data, fear mongering to the media, and just plain lies to make everyone believe there is a threat to everyone. The burmese python issue is a South Florida, the Everglades in particular, issue. These animals CANNOT survive outside of this particular geographical niche. It is not a national problem. Florida has banned the posseion of burmese and transporting them across state lines. The problem is solved. If this bill passes dont be suprised when many other species start getting the same treatment. Scorpions and tarantulas will be high on the list since there are already invasive species thriving in Florida.

No, not everyone should own a burm or a retic, but there are lots of people who can properly care for them. They are wonderful pets, if you provide for them properly. and please dont take offense to this statement. But who are you to say what kind of animal someone can keep? Most of the population of Earth feel tarantulas are not pets, there is no reason to keep them, they dont do anything, so whats the point. So just because most of the world feels no one should keep Ts should we start banning them next? I am sorry if that came off rude, but this is a very sensitive topic for me because my main passion is snakes.

 

[Drakk]

Yeah....we don't need to start up banning animals that cause minimal harm on such flimsy reasoning.
Like others have said it would surely end up with losses to the trade of tarantulas and other animals...and there owners paying with there rights to keep great animals...I LOVE BURMIES.
And as a reason to have one...Because u want one, can care for it properly and give it a good quality of life, and can learn about them by the close proximity and bond acquired.
People who cant supply the above should NOT have them...why i dont have one this minute, when im better off...ill surely have one assuming stupid regulations like this aren't applied.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

The fear instilled by the media of the danger of these animals is present is vastly exaggerated and needs some addressing by professional individuals in the field.

My fear doesn't come from the media. It comes from going to pet store that have full grown burmese or reticulated pythons and thinking, holy cow...that thing could kill a man...and as it turns out, they sometimes do. Alot of people buy them because they are so cute as babies and then before you know it, start getting scared of it because of its size. They feel for the creature, because they raised it from a baby and don't want to kill it. So what do they do? They let it go outside... Luckily, these sankes don't fair too well in many parts of the country. But they don't seem to be having a problem in Florida. Ever wonder what a full grown large python thinks when it happens upon a boyscout camp at 3am in Florida? Buffet...

 

[Comatose]

There are plenty of reputable big snake dealers and keepers, and there's no reason to punish the innocent for the actions of the guilty. This bill was introduced by a congressman down in Florida. His motive is clear - the introduced species down there, but why should every other state be put under a Federal import ban because of the mismanagement of one state? Are constrictors injurious to New England? I'd like to see them established up here.

 

[khil]

I gotta say I agree. And truthfully, and i know I will catch crap for this, there is NO reason at all for ANYONE to own one.

Cool, just wait for them to pass a ban on venomous scorpions, tarantulas, and centipedes. There are millions of people who think there is no reason for ANYONE to own those either. See what I'm getting at?

 

[OphidianDelight]

There are a lot of invasive species in Florida. Should we ban them all nationally because of their presence in one state? Nanday conures are an invasive species in Florida, should that prevent me from owning mine here in Virginia?

I would stand behind more restrictive permit laws, but I have always been skittish about outright bans. Even in states that allow you to keep animals with permits, they can still "backdoor ban" animals simply by not issuing permits; ever try to apply for a permit to keep a crocodilian in VA? Don't bother--you can see on the website (granted I haven't checked since 2003) that it says they are allowed with permit but when you call fish and game to discuss how to obtain your permit, you won't get any further than a phone operator who will tell you matter-of-factly that they aren't issuing permits anymore. :wall:

I don't personally like large constrictors. I have seen people keep them responsibly and devote huge areas of their homes to them in order for them to have space and for the owner to have safety. I have seen more who don't. The other day I went into a local pet store that had a 12 ft. reticulated python in the same enclosure as a 6 ft. burmese and also had a tank of about 30 baby burmese pythons for sale. That means +- 30 more burmese pythons are going to enter homes in my city--probably more in my county and probably even maybe more than one to a home. It's not exciting to contemplate. :barf: But I still can't bring myself to believe that these animals should be banned.

More and more laws are being passed everyday (and not just animal-related laws) that are stripping us of our rights--in TN this week they passed a law that prevents state residents from posting or displaying pictures that cause emotional distress. Do you have a picture of your snake feeding on a rat? I do. But you better not show it in Tennessee because your 1st Amendment rights no longer matter there.

I agree with CFleming--it is a very slippery slope once we start condoning these bans as a hobby. One of the most beautiful things about this country are our freedoms; one of the ugliest things that is happening to this country are the submission of our freedoms in the name of safety.

 

[Carrot]

No one "needs" to own a pet dog or horse either, and I believe those pet animals kill more people per year than any other. Would it be okay to ban those too?

If they want to ban them in areas where they can become invasive, I suppose that's fine. But you'd think if they were that worried over animals becoming invasive that they would make them illegal to own, then they would do the same to cats since they cause more damage.

Seems mostly that these laws are proposed just because people hate/fear snakes.

 

[CFleming]

My fear doesn't come from the media. It comes from going to pet store that have full grown burmese or reticulated pythons and thinking, holy cow...that thing could kill a man...and as it turns out, they sometimes do. Alot of people buy them because they are so cute as babies and then before you know it, start getting scared of it because of its size. They feel for the creature, because they raised it from a baby and don't want to kill it. So what do they do? They let it go outside... Luckily, these sankes don't fair too well in many parts of the country. But they don't seem to be having a problem in Florida. Ever wonder what a full grown large python thinks when it happens upon a boyscout camp at 3am in Florida? Buffet...

This comment has to be one of the stupidest things I have heard/read in a while. You have been totally corrupted by the media. I am sorry, but to think a burm or a retic is going to eat a troop of boyscouts is ridiculous. Come on man. Are they capable of killing humans? Yes. In 99.9% of cases where large constrictors kill humans it is the humans fault. The keeper did something wrong. There are certain procedures that need to be followed when maintaing these amazing animals. When keepers dont follow these procedures that is when problems arise. There needs to be more responsible selling of large constrictors, and I feel they shouldn't be sold at "regular" petstores, but ultimatley it is the responsibility of the buyer to do THEIR research. Isnt that what is preached on these boards? Why should it be different for reptiles?

 

[super-pede]

just to put it out there. I believe that the last python round up in florida turned up ZERO pythons. the winter and other predators probably killed them off.

and the people who are pushing the bill have no experience with any reptiles (or other exotics for that matter) to my knowledge that I could find.

It's all about the media and the Communist News Network

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Cool, just wait for them to pass a ban on venomous scorpions, tarantulas, and centipedes. There are millions of people who think there is no reason for ANYONE to own those either. See what I'm getting at?

There's no reason that a deathstalker needs to be kept as a "pet".

 

[super-pede]

There's no reason that a deathstalker needs to be kept as a "pet".

theres no reason for any animal to be kept as a pet.