Call To All members here....

[g-rrett27]

I opposed it.

 

[gunnshot]

taken care of.

 

[g-rrett27]

you can also go to this website to send a letter to your representatives to ask them to oppose the bill: http://www.rallycongress.com/united...epers/2705/tell-us-senate-to-stop-python-ban/

 

[g-rrett27]

you can also go to this website to send a letter to your representatives to ask them to oppose the bill: http://www.rallycongress.com/united-...op-python-ban/

 

[gworfish]

I wish there was some way I could help oppose that crazy law, but since I not living in, nor a citizen of the USA I don't (and shouldn't have) a vote. However any such law that makes it there will end up having a huge impact in Canada too, so there are a lot of us up here with our finger crossed for you.

 

[dsMreptile]

about to use the link that you provided to OPPOSE this craziness Thank you and happy holidays!

 

[bocephus25]

Signed up and opposed the bill!! Protect our rights and do the same!!

 

[dsMreptile]

Oppose the ban

went on again to oppose the ban (pretty sure it only counts once) hope that everyone does find a quick minute to log on and oppose thank you and have a good day/evening!

 

[ABDragons]

I opposed it.

 

[Ken Foose]

This is a letter that was sent out to all of the Southern Nevada Herp Society's members. Anyone who is in a position to send out such a letter should do so. Just pull out the part with my name, and substitute your congressmen and senetor names and info for the ones she listed for Nevada. It's important to contact these people, as they are the only ones that can stop this. Polls are all well and good, but this is where the war will be won or lost.

. The Python Ban
. ATTENTION: MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN OUR HOBBY

S373 Python Ban passed the committee AND Boa Constrictors were added to the list. This Senate Bill is based on pseudo science and will cause irreversible damage to herpetoculture as we know it. The most important thing you can do to stop S373 is to make an appointment to meet with your Senator’s Office. Nothing is more powerful than a "face to face" meeting with a constituent. This will give your senator a reason to Oppose S373. Ken Foose (of Exotic Pets) has requested a meeting with our Senator Harry Reid but he is preoccupied with the healthcare reform bill and will not be back in Vegas until after the holidays. Ensign is also not in at the moment but EVERYONE please call both offices and request a meeting (also be informed, read http://www.usark.org/ and be prepared to explain why we oppose this ban). NOTE that if this ban passes and your snake is on the list and want to move out of state, your pet snakes cannot go with you and may be euthanized. Transporting them across state lines will be as illegal as transporting street drugs. FIGHT THIS! Contact Sen. Reid’s and Sen. Ensign’s offices by phone and letters-let them know you ARE a constituent, Join USARK and stay informed.
Harry Reid 702-388-5020 and email at: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
John Ensign 877- 894-7711 and email at: http://ensign.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
Take Action
Don’t assume someone else is doing this for you. It is imperative

 

[Ken Foose]

More stuff that might help

Stop The National Python & Boa Ban
Write a Letter to Congress : 5,976 Letters Sent So Far
As a constituent, I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 2811/S. 373, which prohibits interstate trade of several species of pythons and boa constrictors that have been common household pets for decades. I am opposed to S. 373/H.R.2811 because it will leave the hundreds of thousands of responsible Americans that own pythons and boa constrictors without any options for the next thirty years or more.

For example, this bill will prohibit people with pet snakes from moving to a new state in order to gain employment or care for an ill or elderly family member. It will not allow pet owners to seek specialized veterinary care that may only exist in another state. It will prohibit our honorable American service men and women from returning to their home states with their pets after their tour of duty is complete. Finally, this bill will prevent Americans forced to evacuate with their snakes from natural disaster areas on routes that takes them across state lines.

Hard working Americans faced with the situations listed above will be forced to either break the law, let their snakes loose, or kill their beloved pets. I respectfully hope that you will agree with me when I say that all of these options are unacceptable.

Please do all you can to oppose this legislation until it can be written in a way that provides reasonable options for the thousands of responsible python and boa constrictor owners living in our great state and tens of thousands more around the rest of the country. Thank you for your consideration.

Just a sample letter you can use.

 

[Ken Foose]

more stuff

CAPTIVE CONSTRICTOR SNAKES: PYTHONS AND BOAS IN THE USA
Separating Facts from Fiction
In the last two decades, boas and pythons have become an increasingly popular exotic pet snakes across the USA. With the increased knowledge in their captive husbandry, there is now a bigger and better selection of captive bred snakes than ever before. By supplying the pet market with high quality healthy reptiles, the private breeders are greatly reducing the demand on the wild populations.
Unfortunately, special interest animal rights, AR, lobby groups are trying to increase their income by creating a public hysteria that the constrictors will invade the USA, and wipe out the human and native wildlife populations. This is simply not true, as the table below proves. The constrictor issue is limited to the southern tip of Florida, and should be dealt with on the local, not federal level.
YEARS: 1990-2008
SOUTH FLORIDA
NORTH FLORIDA
REST OF THE USA
CONSTRICTOR SNAKES KEPT AS PETS IN
YES
YES
YES
REPORTS OF EXOTIC SNAKES AT LARGE IN
YES
YES
YES
EXOTIC CONSTRICTORS SURVIVING IN THE WILD
YES, in the south tip of Florida Everglades
NO
NO
HUMAN FATALITIES CAUSED BY CONSTRICTORS AT LARGE
0
0
0
*HUMAN FATALITIES CAUSED BY CAPTIVE CONSTRICTORS: YEARLY AND LIFETIME ODDS OF DYING BY CAPTIVE CONSTRICTOR
IN THE USA
0
0
8 Total
0.44 person per year
One year odds:
1 in 691,590,909
Lifetime odds:
1 in 8,981,700
* REXANO statistics only go thru 2008, as the year 2009 is not over. Furthermore, the 2009 Florida Burmese python supposedly killing a toddler case is still under investigation.
http://www.rexano.org//Statistics/Constrictor_Captive_Snake_Fatality.pdf
CONCLUSION: There is no public safety issue due to the captive or at large constrictor snakes. The extremely rare fatalities are to the owners and family members, NOT the general public, aka, voluntarily accepted hobby hazard. There is NO real need to address an isolated state issue thru the federal ban on exotic snakes, which will not only reduce the freedoms of Americans to choose what kind of pet to keep, but will also waste tax payers’ money and kill animal industry and jobs.
More info:http://www.rexano.org//Education.htm http://www.rexano.org/DA_FEDERAL.htm
http://www.rexano.org/Posters_JustSayNO/JSN_Gallery_6.htm Copyright © REXANO 2009

 

[Ken Foose]

and more

I have found this to be one of the most helpful sites on the Web. These people (actually one very nice girl) keeps us abreast of everything going on in the world of exotics, and specifically on the herp stuff moving through Washington right now.
http://www.rexano.org//index.htm

You should all go there and check it out.

 

[sinisterserpents1]

I opposed it!

 

[leoghann]

just opposed. who do they think they are? more people are attacked by goddamn toaster ovens a year than ball pythons. are those illegal? noooo. absolutely ridiculous

 

[Ken Foose]

Ball Pythons are not in the final bill, either of them. Have you contacted your Congressmen yet? Have you actually read either of the pending bills? There are up to 9 snakes effected by the bills as they sit now. They could be amended on the floor of the Senate or the House, or they could be killed completely. Our goal should be to do everything we can to kill both versions of the bill in both houses of Congress. Nothing more or less. Contact your representatives. Clicking on a Website will not do anything. I like that people come here with a one word post "opposed", but what else have you done? Have you written a letter to each of your representatives? Have your parents, if you are too young to vote? Have you made some phone calls? Granted, they might not be home yet, but you can call them in Washington. Most of the numbers are toll free, and if not, cell phones usually work nicely and free. No one is going to do this for you. No one is going to protect your rights, but you. If we all do this together, we will prevail. If all you do is click that you oppose on a Website, well, so be it. I'm doing everything I can to protect my rights and my livelihood, are you? For those of you that have done what needs to be done, or are for sure planning on it, thanks, from all of us.

 

[Ken Foose]

Go to this link and follow the instructions

http://www.kill-s373.com/

 

[Ken Foose]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT USA FEDERAL BILLS
H.R. 2811 and S. 373 to Include Python genera as an Injurious Animal
(111th Congress, Year 2009)
What are H.R. 2811 and S. 373?
The federal bills, HR 2811 and S 373, would amend title 18, United States Code, Lacey act, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal. The bills would make it a federal crime to import or ship certain snakes into the United
States and cross the state lines without a federal permit.
http://www.rexano.org/DA_FEDERAL.htm
What snakes would be covered and affected by these bills?
The snakes affected so far in the Senate version are 4 pythons (Python molurus, Python sebae, Python natalensis and Broghammerus reticulates, formerly Python reticulatus), the Boa constrictors and the 4 Anacondas (Eunectes notaeus, Eunectes deschauenseei, Eunectes murinus and Eunectes beniensis).
It is still not clear how many python and boa species will be affected by this proposed legislation in the House and when the final version will be voted on.
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/InjuriousWildlifeFactSheet2007.pdf
What activities would be prohibited?
Unless you are exempt, you may not move live snakes across State lines or the U.S. border. Prohibited activities include:
• Import into or export out of the United States
• Interstate sale and purchase
• Transport across State lines
• Receiving or acquiring snakes if the animals are moved from one State to another
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/Lacey.pdf
Who would be exempt from the provisions of these bills?
Nobody will be able to move these snakes across state lines or internationally without USFWS injurious wildlife permit. However, only AZA zoos and research facilities are usually eligible to apply and actually get this permit
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/3-200-42.pdf
If one of these bills passes, will I be able to keep my current snakes in my home state?
You will be allowed to keep your current inventory of snakes and get more from others in your own state, but you will not be allowed to breed, sell, transport or buy more across state lines or internationally without USFWS permit.
If I move within my state, can I keep my snakes?
Yes. However, if you acquire your snake from somebody (even in your own state) whose animals were brought to the state after these bills become laws (if they do), than any of these snakes or their offspring can only be transferred from permitted to permitted facility. Meaning, if a breeder brings a new snake bloodline to your home state from a neighboring state, then this snake and all the offsprings will only be allowed to go to the permitted facilities approved by the director of USFWS.
Permitted facilities need to inform the director if the facility location changes, even if the move is within the state. To monitor and enforce this would be a total nightmare, as how does one prove the parentage of all the snakes in possession? Will it be innocent until proven guilty, or guilty until proven innocent for the snake owners?
http://www.rexano.org/pythons.htm (scroll down)
“(1) All live wildlife acquired under permit and all progeny thereof, must be confined in the approved facilities on the premises authorized in the permit.
(2) No live wildlife, acquired under permit, or any eggs or progeny thereof, may be sold, donated, traded, loaned, or transferred to any other person unless such person has a permit issued by the Director under §16.22 authorizing him to acquire and possess such wildlife or the eggs or progeny thereof.””
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...rgn=div5&view=text&node=50:1.0.1.2.10&idno=50
If I own a snake and move to another State, can I take this animal(s) with me?
No. The prohibition on transport would apply to any movement of a covered snake across State lines, even household moves. Only individuals or entities with injurious wildlife permit can move a snake from one State to another.
Can I take a snake to another State for veterinary treatment?
Unless you qualify for the permit, you cannot transport a covered snake to another State for any reason. Only a permitted individual or entity can arrange such transport.
Can I take a snake to another State in case of a natural disaster?
No.
Can I sell a snake to someone in another State?
No. Unless you will be permitted under the proposed bill, you cannot sell a snake to someone in another State. You may be able to make such a sale within your State, unless State or local laws prohibit such sales, but only to a permitted entity.
If I can no longer keep or care for a snake, can I transfer the animal to an exempt person or organization in another State?
Yes. You may give the snake to a permitted organization or person who can take care of it, but the exempt individual or organization must arrange for transporting the animal across State lines.
Can I buy a snake from a person or organization in another State?
No. Such a purchase would be legal only if you were also permitted. Only permitted entities can move snakes across state lines or in and out of the USA.
What would the penalties be for violating this proposed law?
Penalties depend on the type of violation. The Lacey Act sets fines for violations involving imports or exports, or commercial violations in which the value of the wildlife exceeds $350. Fines for misdemeanor violations are currently set at a maximum of $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for organizations. Maximum fines for felonies are presently $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for organizations.
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/Lacey_Fines.pdf
What criteria were used to choose the snake species?
Seems like our hysterical legislators totally ignored the facts and science on this one and just picked the snakes out of the magic hat, instead of properly following the injurious species evaluation criteria
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/InjuriousWildlifeEvaluationProcessFlowChart.pdf
How many snakes will be affected?
There is no exact number as to how many snakes are owned in the USA and going to be affected, but according to November 6, 2009 HR 2811 testimony of DAN ASHE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, AND HOMELAND SECURITY, “Over the past 30 years, about a million individuals of these nine species have been imported into the United States, and current domestic production of some species likely exceeds import levels.”
What this means that lives of millions of innocent snakes could be affected by this bad legislation.
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/Ashe_2009_snakes.pdf
What if I can not find a legal home for my snake?
If no legal home is found, your snake will be killed.
Is there a public safety threat associated with the captive constrictors?
No, there is no public safety risk. Between 1990 and 2008, only 8 humans died as a result of strangulation by a captive non venomous snake in the USA. That averages to 0.44 (less than half a person) being killed per year, one - year odds of dying by captive non venomous (constrictor) snake is 1 in 691,590,909, lifetime odds 1 in 8,981,700. None of these deaths were the result of the constrictor snakes being unsupervised off the private owners’ property. Instead, all victims were voluntarily on the property where the animal was kept, be it owner(s) or family members.
REXANO statistics only go thru 2008, as the year 2009 is not over. Furthermore, the 2009 Florida Burmese python supposedly killing a toddler case is still under investigation.
Since 1990, there is no record of a member of the general public in the USA dying as a result of a constrictor snake. Captive keeping of large constrictors might be a slight voluntarily accepted hobby/occupational hazard, but it is NOT a public safety issue.
At the same time in 2005 (year for which detailed governmental statistics are already available), 344 people in the USA died by drowning and submersion while in or falling into bath-tub. Drowning and submersion while in or falling into swimming-pool caused 607 human deaths, while drowning and submersion while in or falling into natural water killed 1,603.
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter killed 16,692 humans. No wild alligators or pythons can match that!
http://www.rexano.org//Statistics/Constrictor_Captive_Snake_Fatality.pdf
http://www.rexano.org/Statistics/Death_Odds_Exotic_Animal_2005.pdf
Is there a public safety threat associated with the captive constrictors at large in the USA?
No. As of today, there is no reported human fatality caused by an exotic constrictor at large in the USA
http://www.rexano.org/Federal_Canada/Constrictor_Snake_Flyer.pdf
What are the problems with these bills?
No real science and peer review was used to choose the snake species covered.
Burmese python is a localized issue and Florida State is already addressing it with state legislation
http://www.rexano.org//StatePages/FloridaFrame.htm
http://www.rexano.org/Posters_JustSayNO/JSN_Gallery_6.htm
The original intent of Lacey act was to stop trade in the illegally taken wildlife or plant.
There are two components to a violation of the Lacey Act.
1. Wildlife or plant must be taken, harvested, possessed, transported, sold or exported illegally, in violation of an underlying law in any foreign country or the U.S.
2. An individual or company must trade this illegally acquired wildlife or plant in U.S. interstate or foreign commerce.
In the case of the ’snake bills’, the federal government is trying to regulate the animals that were legally acquired and are currently legally possessed.
The cost of removal of injurious species is very high, however, if some of the millions of snakes currently in possession can’t be legally rehomed, some fear the owners might possibly release their beloved pet instead of killing it. This would create a much worse scenario nationwide than what we have now, basically, this bill might make the situation worse instead of better.
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/2008-Florida-Invaders.pdf
According to the cost estimate for H.R. 2811: “Because those prosecuted and convicted under H.R. 2811 could be subject to criminal fines, the federal government might collect additional fines if the legislation is enacted. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent. CBO expects that any additional revenues and direct spending would not be significant because of the small number of cases likely to be affected.
By prohibiting the importation and interstate transport of certain snakes without a permit, the bill would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).”
<snip>
“Based on information about the cost of permits from the USFWS, and information
gathered from industry professionals about the value of shipments, sales, and imports of snakes, CBO estimates that the costs of the mandates would fall below the annual
thresholds established in UMRA for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates
($69 million and $139 million in 2009, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation).”
http://www.rexano.org/Federal_Canada/hr2811.pdf
We believe the H.R. 2811 cost estimate is incorrect and misleading. The actual cost to taxpayers would be astronomical in terms of money and time.
With thousands of affected snake owners, and thousands to millions of individual snakes trying to stay legal and keep their pet when moving across state lines, many will try to apply for USFWS permit. Some might place their pet to a permitted facility across the USA. The USFWS permitting and registration system will be swamped with paperwork. Many snake owners are not independently wealthy, and the cost estimate
wrongly assumes that it will be easy to offset the increased cost of injurious wildlife regulations enforcement by collecting $100,000 to $200,000 in fines from an illegal snake owner who has maybe few hundred dollars in the bank.
Going after illegal snake owners to collect the fines would also choke the federal court system.
When snake owners have to move to another state and can’t find the new legal home for their beloved pet snake, some fear the owners might out of love for their pets just illegally release the snake instead of killing it. This would increase the need for more animal control officers, thus increasing the financial burden on the local enforcement agencies, and waste more tax payers money.
There is no provision to take the snakes across the state lines in the case of a natural disaster, which too would possibly increase the number of unintentionally released snakes.
These proposed bills will solve nothing and can potentially turn the US snake situation into a total disaster in terms of animal welfare and financial burden on taxpayers.
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/UMRA1995.pdf
http://www.rexano.org/Pythons/Summary-UMRA.pdf
What might be the next big threat to affected snake owners in the future?
Since the federal ‘snake bills’ might be hard to enforce by federal authorities due to the sheer volume of owners and snakes, the individual states might have to be forced be special interest animal rights groups to ban or regulate these snakes on the state level, like Florida is doing.
DRAFT Copyright © REXANO 2009

 

[Ken Foose]

Watch this vidio by Brian

http://media.causes.com/683403?p_id=102779962

 

[herper91]

Opposed