I agree with you completely, there's a perception issue that has been skewed by popular media and a couple of stories about people getting killed by their animals. I just read another post where an 2.5 foot albino corn snake bit a 9 year old girl on the toe in Virginia (or Maryland maybe...). The animal was identified as an albino python and they refused to correct the story even though they received the correct identification as the animal's picture was posted along with the article. To the general public keeping a snake is as "freaky" as it gets and they refuse to understand or learn that snake attacks are rarer than Great White Shark or Grizzly Bear attacks.

I'm not trying to sound preachy but everyone that has a stake should start writing to our lawmakers to let them know they're only going to create a problem where one doesn't exist if they leave this bill the way it is currently worded. While I agree most people don't need an elephant, rhinoceros, or wolverine banning constrictor snakes that can "potentially" reach lengths of 6 feet is going to cause a huge problem if thousands of animals hit the market because it's illegal to keep them anymore. I think, and hope, they just don't know this and will listen.

I've already written to all the members of the House and Senate Natural Resource Committees, in addition to the Governor, and am also going to email them and will probably follow up with letters to all the lawmakers if this bill makes it out of committee. Anyway, check out the other forums for more information and contact information for the committee members if interested.

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