Quote:
Originally Posted by kylemillsap
Barry , Barry ,Barry. I would say that is a good reason to ban you from a reptile classifieds site.How can you say that is unjust? Take it like a man and stop the shenanigans!
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Kyle,
First off, Harald will prove over the weekend that Richard is separate than me. Secondly, I had bought 9 reptiles overseas years back not fully knowing what ramifications that would take place or that I needed documents. That over embelished LA times article simply named me ALONG with Bobby Ginn as well as others who was reportedly using KS to launder his animals. NOT me. Mine got taken before I could even do anything with them.(Keep them, sell them, eat them, etc..) As they say, don't believe everything you read in the media. I wasn't arrested, but did have my day in court. Am I ashamed? No. Am I embarrassed? Yes. Jeff banned me just for being named in an article, but yet he endorses and supports guys(and a book) that glamorizes smuggling on his site? Hyprocracy if you ask me! If you heard what I had to go through over 9 reptiles and all the facts surrounding that, then you might look at things differently. I was hardly a "smuggler", but definately an overzealous hobbyist who was sent some reptiles and wasn't asked to pay til I received them. There have been many a good people and their families who have been snared into this trap and paid the price dearly for it. I'm one of them. So, try not to be overly judgmental from what you hear. Since then I have immersed myself in the "do's and dont's" of buying, selling, CITES, etc...
Trust me, there are a TON more people around like me, but are just not as vocal about it. I hope I can get someone to learn from my mistake when you buy animals here and overseas. Not fun. I paid my price to the govt and society, but that wasn't good enough for KS. So, in short, Jeff has a set of rules for some people on his site and another set for other folks.
If you still care to judge me, then please think about all the "common" reptiles we all enjoy and keep currently and realize that MANY of these species are avail for you to enjoy and work with because they were "smuggled" into the U.S. and are now saturated in the market and it too late for our govt to round up a million turtles, tortoises, lizards, etc.....
I don't need Richard to sell animals. I introduced him to the hobby sold him a few very common surplus babies and odds and ends for him and his son to play with and make a small buck on. That's all. Get informed before you judge or ridicule. You just may learn something valuable from someone. I would rather teach guys about what happens vs. hide my head in the sand. I did a one page right up on KS, voicing my story for others to learn from my mistake and that gave every opportunity for every jealous turtle/tortoise keeper to talk trash about me. I volunteered myself to be the sacrificial lamb, not someone else. How many people do you know that can say that? Now I work with some of the most unique and rare species on the planet. LEGALLY.
Barry
Kingsnake.com/Jeff Barringer/ Bad business!! Legal?
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