Mike I know you from California, I purchased Angel Island Chucks form you many, many moons ago.... So here's my take (I'm a nobody in the scheme fo things here in Texas, but here is the one thing that I have or take issue about this subject. Mike is right in a sense, I happen to ascribe to the non lobbyist approach, but hey if you hire someone, you should set the ground rules as far as what you want from them. Lobbyists indeed are the way government and politics works in the U.s., how they work within the system takes on many different approaches with different organizations and issues.. Now that being said--let me point something out here,and I am not saying anything new here but you all are camping out on the roadside collection, why don't you persue states rights and the fact there is a violation of the citizens rights her in Texas with this law as it sets at the moment. You could get legal counsel to take this on, even a young bright intern looking to make a name on your behalf, the fact of the matter you all pay taxes for the roads, You have umpteen years of precedence set as to how and what was legal. The horned lizard program is of non effect, and other issues come into play not missing all the arguments about the amount of monies spent in far away rural towns on week ends. Your safety record over those years it in the 95% percentile, so I don't understand why someone hasn't approached this from states and citizens rights. If you have a law that applies, then not only should it apply to us,but any other group that would use the roads etc. etc. The fact of the matter it seems to me you have

every good reason to approach this from another angle. Finally and I am a little sheepish in asking the question, did anyone finally actually meet with Harvey face to face, and if so it is obvious what the results were. but if not then why not? Also I haven't seen any proposals that have been put together as to how the lizards and snake situation could be run and what is reasonable form a lizard and snake organization(s)on behalf of the hobbyists and herpers in Texas? You have to have something to propose and sorry if I have missed all this but I don't need you all to start sending me links, I just want to know that some of these ideas have been explored up to this point, then I have a better idea so how my own involvement in this will take shape.



So my last point behind the scenes there could be any number of things taking place, if I was joe average herper how do I know whats going on, what the issues are, and how can i get involved.

My point is "we" all need some better vehicles in approaching the Texas public and hobbyists with this issue, or they just don't know, we know we have the numbers but how do you get them involved? O.k. I'll shut up, and Mike good to here from you, mike has a lot of experience in these areas so I wouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water, he didn't post because he doesn't care, if it has happened here there will be other states that this will spread too. You just wait....
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