Oby,



This is what I have been working on - education and realization within this very industry. This indutsry and the people in it are a dynamic bunch, opinions and views change constantly, financial situations change, people get in then out, people break the law and they follow the law, people are hypocritical and they are honest, people collect and sell wild caught and then justify why what they did is not commercial collection. Some are very strict about only buying captive born others it doesn't matter. Some people work with one species one week and another the next. Minds are open and they are closed. Some are in it for the money and don't care about the animals and others could care less about money and they obsess over the animals. Some are good at husbandry and others suck at it. Some just enjoy collecting and not keeping, others don't know a thing about collecting but are excellent keepers. Some folks use to do certain activites but now "have seen the light" and are now "holier than thou." I could go on and one about the dynamics.



So because we are so dynamic we need to discuss issues and debate points but what it all MUST come down to is banding together to fight our common enemies. We ALL must protect everyone's right to participate in these top 5 items: sustainable harvest, breeding, possessing any species we choose, the right to transport and the right to commerce in live herps. The HR 669 bill is just one bill. There have been other bills and regulations mostly at the state level that threatened and outlawed some of the top 5 items that we were divided on.



We need to make this real simple, that is, what we stand for. We all must be on the same page with the same focus. I don't trust the intentions of some within this industry. The only way to earn trust is to show by action and commitment that you will fight the good fight.



As far as my personal collection HR 669 doesn't affect me but I know its wrong and I know where it will lead. And I will fight all bad laws. My only worry is that when it comes to issues I care about will these same folks back me? When my state tries to outlaw the sale of wild caught will the gray-band breeders fight to stop something so ridiculous? Will PIJAC cave into PARC and big breeders to hurt the small breeders and the dealers in wild caught? Will recreational hobbyists continue to sell out commercial interests? Will snake breeders continue to sell out turtle breeders? Will recreational folks continue to buy into academic hype?



Divide and conquer is a strategy they will continue to use. Will folks in this industry continue to fall for it? Will brothers continue to sell out brothers?



Again, we need to set some very simple positions that protect everyone in this industry and stick to them like the NRA. This is the only way we will be victorious. No compromise, no back stabbing, no brown nosers and no selling out.



Welkerii

El Paso, TX

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