Senate Bill #477 and House Bill #1242 in Virginia are going to take away your right to own pythons and venomous species, unless you make your voice heard, NOW!!! This legislation would ban almost all species of large python/venomous reptiles, along with a vast array of other exotic animals, and make it very complicated to keep if you already own them. Euthanasia is going to likely be the result for many thousands of private specimens/educational animals/exhibition displays, unless we fight this. Even if this doesn’t appear to impact your collection or business, with the recent track record on legislation, it’s only a matter of time before it snow-balls into future bans that do affect your collection, or impact you financially.



If you don’t live in Virginia, but have ever done business with someone here, this affects you too, as your businesses have contributed to our economy, so make a call. If our way of life is to survive, Virginians, and enthusiast everywhere must fight this as a unified front. Contact your state representative immediately (contact info below) and make sure they know you oppose this legislation passing, but please stick to these guidelines that will give you a positive result:



1. Be clear that you DO NOT want Senate Bill #477 or HB#1242 to be passed into law.

2. If you are going to write, send a personalized hand written letter, preferably 1 page.

3. Stay Positive, an angry message will get the opposite result of what you hope to achieve.

4. Address that you are a taxpayer and voter, and this will be the issue that determines your vote, and the votes of many you know in the next election: friends, family, customers

5. “I’m sure you weren’t aware” statement. (i.e.: Impact on education, jobs)

6. “We want to work with you” statements. (i.e.: data analysis, research, study, towards responsible ownership)

7. Be respectful !!!



Don’t just send an email into the abyss. Write, call, fax, and if you really feel strongly about it, put on a tie go to the committee representative’s office at the General Assembly building in Richmond and voice your opposition in person. Maybe I’ll see you there.



Brad Johnston

Python Eugenics LLC

pythoneugenics@comcast.net

781-330-2854



Committee Members:



Delegate Beverly J. Sherwood (Chair)

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1029

Fax: (804) 698-6729

Email: DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov



Delegate R. Lee Ware, Jr.

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1065

Fax: (804) 698-6765

Email: DelLWare@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Thomas C. Wright, Jr.

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1061

Fax: (804) 698-6761

Email: DelTWright@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Robert D. Orrock, Sr.

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1054

Fax: (804) 698-6754

Email: DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Edward T. Scott (Vice Chair)

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1030

Fax: (804) 698-6730

Email: DelEScott@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Robert G. Marshall

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1013

Fax: (804) 698-6713

Email: DelBMarshall@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Charles D. Poindexter

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1009

Fax: (804) 698-6709

Email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Brenda L. Pogge

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1096

Fax: (804) 698-1196

Email: DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Barry D. Knight

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1081

Fax: (804) 698-6781

Email: DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov



Delegate James E. Edmunds, II

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1060

Fax: (804) 698-6760

Email: DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Tony O. Wilt

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1026

Fax: (804) 698-6726

Email: DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov



Delegate James W. (Will) Morefield

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1003

Fax: (804) 698-6703

Email: DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Michael J. Webert

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1018

Fax: (804) 698-6718

Email: DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Margaret B. Ransone

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1099

Fax: (804) 786-6310

Email: DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov



Delegate C. Matthew Fariss

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1059

Fax: (804) 698-6759

Email: DelMFariss@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Kenneth R. Plum

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1036

Fax: (804) 698-6736

Email: DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1000

Fax: (804) 698-6700

Email: DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov



Delegate David L. Bulova

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1037

Fax: (804) 698-6737

Email: DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Mark D. Sickles

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1043

Fax: (804) 698-6743

Email: DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov





Delegate David L. Englin

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1045

Fax: (804) 698-6745

Email: DelDEnglin@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Matthew James

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1080

Fax: (804) 698-6780

Email: DelMJames@house.virginia.gov



Delegate Luke E. Torian

General Assembly Building

P.O. Box 406

Richmond, Virginia 23218

Phone: (804) 698-1052

Fax: (804) 698-6752

Email: DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov

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