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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