gonzoone
New member
As I heard the news from West Virginia and North Myrtle Beach, I decided I should be proactive and contacted my national and state legislators with my concerns about the increasing bans on reptiles. This was on 1/18/14. My national Senator and state Representative both replied with courteous responses which showed that someone on their staff actually read my email. Then on 1/27 I received the following email. Unbelievably, Mr. Cook neglected to delete the listing of how it trickled through the chain of command. Any input? I am personally offended that a state senator would respond this way to an active, registered voter.
Good Afternoon Mr. Reed ,
I would appreciate it if you could give me a call at 615-781-6652. I understand you have concerns about the proposed adding of more constrictor species to the present interstate movement ban. Since this is a federal restriction and not state , I will be happy to provide you the appropriate contacts to express you concerns. Also I am available to discuss this issue further ,if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Captain Walter Cook
Captive Wildlife Coordinator
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Phone 615-781-6652
From: Chris Richardson
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:16 PM
To: Walter Cook
Subject: Fwd: Exotic Animals he needs a visit from TWRA
Chris Richardson
Special Assistant to the Director - Policy and Legislation
Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
Work: 615-837-6016
Fax: 615-781-6551
Cell: 615-308-0477
Begin forwarded message:
From: Nat Johnson <[email protected]>
Date: January 21, 2014 at 11:45:41 AM CST
To: Chris Richardson <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Exotic Animals he needs a visit from TWRA
Yes. Let Southerland know u have taken care if it.
Nat Johnson
TWRA
On Jan 21, 2014, at 11:42 AM, "Chris Richardson" <[email protected]> wrote:
Should I send this to Wally?
Chris Richardson
Special Assistant to the Director - Policy and Legislation
Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
615-308-0477
[email protected]
On Jan 19, 2014, at 7:50 PM, "Nat Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote:
FYI.
Nat Johnson
TWR
Begin forwarded message:
From: Steve Southerland <[email protected]>
Date: January 18, 2014 at 8:51:48 PM CST
To: Johnson Nat <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Exotic Animals he needs a visit from TWRA
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mike Reed < mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: January 18, 2014 at 1:57:32 PM EST
To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>, <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: Exotic Animals
Dear sir,
I am writing to voice my concerns with the proposal to add more snakes to the restrictions of the Lacey Act. I personally have invested everything I have to get started breeding ball pythons and boa constrictors and stand to loose it all if this agenda goes through.
The science used on the original listing has been proven to be erroneous. These snakes can not survive, let alone thrive, outside of Southern Florida. Florida already has their own state laws to deal with this issue. The results of last years "Python Challenge" leave me questioning the number of pythons that Fish and Wildlife claim are in the Everglades. With 100,000 snakes and 1600 participants, more than 68 should have been recovered.
The Humane Society of the United States continually tells us of the 17 deaths related to captive constrictors. They fail to reveal that these 17 deaths occurred over a 30+ year span. Everyone of these deaths involved either the keeper or a member of the immediate family. Nobody that could be considered the general public was involved. That is roughly 1 death every 2 years, much less than the numbers involving poorly kept dogs or cats or even horses and cows. Every case of death involved a keeper that did not show adequate knowledge, concern and care for their animals. Why should those of us who do properly maintain our animals suffer for those individuals that don't?
HSUS will site pages and pages of recorded snake "attacks". If you pay attention to the stories told, all of these attacks are actually humans aggressively attempting to capture the animal and it responding as any animal would.
It is my opinion, that when the actual evidence is examined, there is no need for any National legislation limiting those of us responsibly dealing with these animals. The limits proposed will hurt, and in some cases ruin, the citizens who have worked hard to build a small business around this particular niche of the pet trade.
I understand that the issues I have voiced are national and not state related, I have continued to witness other states enact laws that severely restrict, and in effect destroy, the reptile industry as a whole with in the states. Ohio recently enacted restrictions which can not be reasonably met. West Virginia, just this week, has proposed the same types of restrictions. I just wanted to let you know, before the fact, that I would be opposed to any such restrictions being enacted in Tennessee.
Thank you for your time,
Mike Reed
Good Afternoon Mr. Reed ,
I would appreciate it if you could give me a call at 615-781-6652. I understand you have concerns about the proposed adding of more constrictor species to the present interstate movement ban. Since this is a federal restriction and not state , I will be happy to provide you the appropriate contacts to express you concerns. Also I am available to discuss this issue further ,if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Captain Walter Cook
Captive Wildlife Coordinator
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Phone 615-781-6652
From: Chris Richardson
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:16 PM
To: Walter Cook
Subject: Fwd: Exotic Animals he needs a visit from TWRA
Chris Richardson
Special Assistant to the Director - Policy and Legislation
Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
Work: 615-837-6016
Fax: 615-781-6551
Cell: 615-308-0477
Begin forwarded message:
From: Nat Johnson <[email protected]>
Date: January 21, 2014 at 11:45:41 AM CST
To: Chris Richardson <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Exotic Animals he needs a visit from TWRA
Yes. Let Southerland know u have taken care if it.
Nat Johnson
TWRA
On Jan 21, 2014, at 11:42 AM, "Chris Richardson" <[email protected]> wrote:
Should I send this to Wally?
Chris Richardson
Special Assistant to the Director - Policy and Legislation
Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
615-308-0477
[email protected]
On Jan 19, 2014, at 7:50 PM, "Nat Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote:
FYI.
Nat Johnson
TWR
Begin forwarded message:
From: Steve Southerland <[email protected]>
Date: January 18, 2014 at 8:51:48 PM CST
To: Johnson Nat <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: Exotic Animals he needs a visit from TWRA
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mike Reed < mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: January 18, 2014 at 1:57:32 PM EST
To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>, <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: Exotic Animals
Dear sir,
I am writing to voice my concerns with the proposal to add more snakes to the restrictions of the Lacey Act. I personally have invested everything I have to get started breeding ball pythons and boa constrictors and stand to loose it all if this agenda goes through.
The science used on the original listing has been proven to be erroneous. These snakes can not survive, let alone thrive, outside of Southern Florida. Florida already has their own state laws to deal with this issue. The results of last years "Python Challenge" leave me questioning the number of pythons that Fish and Wildlife claim are in the Everglades. With 100,000 snakes and 1600 participants, more than 68 should have been recovered.
The Humane Society of the United States continually tells us of the 17 deaths related to captive constrictors. They fail to reveal that these 17 deaths occurred over a 30+ year span. Everyone of these deaths involved either the keeper or a member of the immediate family. Nobody that could be considered the general public was involved. That is roughly 1 death every 2 years, much less than the numbers involving poorly kept dogs or cats or even horses and cows. Every case of death involved a keeper that did not show adequate knowledge, concern and care for their animals. Why should those of us who do properly maintain our animals suffer for those individuals that don't?
HSUS will site pages and pages of recorded snake "attacks". If you pay attention to the stories told, all of these attacks are actually humans aggressively attempting to capture the animal and it responding as any animal would.
It is my opinion, that when the actual evidence is examined, there is no need for any National legislation limiting those of us responsibly dealing with these animals. The limits proposed will hurt, and in some cases ruin, the citizens who have worked hard to build a small business around this particular niche of the pet trade.
I understand that the issues I have voiced are national and not state related, I have continued to witness other states enact laws that severely restrict, and in effect destroy, the reptile industry as a whole with in the states. Ohio recently enacted restrictions which can not be reasonably met. West Virginia, just this week, has proposed the same types of restrictions. I just wanted to let you know, before the fact, that I would be opposed to any such restrictions being enacted in Tennessee.
Thank you for your time,
Mike Reed
