I think that, if we are going to engage in a discussion on the subject, that it is productive to stick with the matter at hand. Compare apples to apples, so to speak. Keep to the point, instead of muddying the waters with false analogies.

So, if we're going to discuss the topic of exotic venomous snakes in a non-native setting and the potential hazard they represent, then the most appropriate thing to do is to compare the risk of harm without the snakes present vs. with the snakes.

Example: If there were no black mambas in New Haven, then the odds of being bitten by one while in that town would be nil. If, subsequently, a resident of New Haven decides to obtain and keep a black mamba, then the odds of being bitten increase. Nominally perhaps, but certainly creating a risk where no risk had previously existed.

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• ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - USARK, Mon Mar 15 13:22:02 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - StephF, Wed Mar 17 13:52:46 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - natsamjosh, Wed Mar 17 14:39:39 2010
• If a tree falls... - jscrick, Wed Mar 17 15:24:59 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 16:50:44 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - StephF, Wed Mar 17 17:31:39 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - jscrick, Wed Mar 17 17:52:22 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 17:57:22 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - StephF, Wed Mar 17 18:08:38 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 18:13:25 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 17:53:47 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - webwheeler, Wed Mar 17 18:09:46 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - StephF, Wed Mar 17 18:12:25 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - webwheeler, Wed Mar 17 18:17:10 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 18:25:56 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - webwheeler, Wed Mar 17 18:39:56 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 18:46:22 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - jscrick, Wed Mar 17 19:17:36 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Wed Mar 17 20:29:39 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - webwheeler, Thu Mar 18 06:37:46 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Thu Mar 18 15:18:24 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - Calparsoni, Thu Mar 18 23:22:31 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 15:53:34 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - Calparsoni, Thu Mar 18 23:14:16 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 15:56:02 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - StephF, Wed Mar 17 22:38:40 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - webwheeler, Thu Mar 18 07:05:04 2010
• Strawman argument alert - Calparsoni, Thu Mar 18 23:36:57 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - StephF, Fri Mar 19 10:09:14 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - webwheeler, Fri Mar 19 11:04:59 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 16:00:41 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - Calparsoni, Fri Mar 19 11:49:28 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 16:09:11 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - jscrick, Fri Mar 19 19:15:34 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - TOM_CRUTCHFIELD, Fri Mar 19 21:22:26 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - StephF, Fri Mar 19 22:12:21 2010
• BAN TOOTHPICKS!!!!! - natsamjosh, Fri Mar 19 22:24:15 2010
• RE: BAN TOOTHPICKS!!!!! - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 16:12:59 2010
• RE: Moron argument alert - Eimon, Sat Mar 20 01:13:50 2010
• RE: Moron argument alert - StephF, Sat Mar 20 10:42:09 2010
• RE: Moron argument alert - webwheeler, Sat Mar 20 12:56:44 2010
• RE: Moron argument alert - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 16:16:48 2010
• Moron argument alert - StephF, Sat Mar 20 16:53:15 2010
• RE: Moron argument alert - luhrsreptiles, Sat Mar 20 12:23:35 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - jscrick, Sat Mar 20 08:45:50 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 16:23:21 2010
• RE: Strawman argument alert - busterlimes, Sat Mar 20 15:57:30 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - Calparsoni, Thu Mar 18 14:48:21 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - busterlimes, Thu Mar 18 15:20:50 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - natsamjosh, Wed Mar 17 20:30:35 2010
• RE: ACTION: Stop CT Ban of Reptiles - jscrick, Wed Mar 17 21:35:32 2010