Posted by:
Robert Haase
at Tue Jul 20 21:24:42 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Robert Haase ]
Why would the USFWS enforcement branch get involved with a native USA species that is not listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended? The provisions of the ESA do not authorize or mandate any such action on the part of this agency, unless illegal transport of a listed species occurs. For provisions of the Lacey Act to be brought to bear, it must be demonstrated that there has been interstate or international transport of a listed species, or parts or products thereof derived from a listed species. Lampropeltis alterna is not protected by the State of Texas, nor is it listed under the ESA, so I'm unclear what your point is here regarding imposition of the Lacey Act. The only way this could occur is if this species is transported across international borders and it can be demonstrated that the it was taken in Mexico, where it is protected by Mexican wildlife laws and therefore falls under the provisions of the Lacey Act because of international agreement with Mexico. Call me an idiot or whatever else you want to, but you are misinformed about the statutes of federal law.
As a last comment, all of you who live in Texas can have the most impact on your stupid state laws...don't vote for the ignorant politicians who support them, or better yet vote them out of office in your next election. There are far graver environmental issues of significance in this country than a handful of people picking up snakes along rural roadways that are like to get smashed by vehicles at some point. What your current laws in this category represent isn't wildlife resource management, it's prejudiced manipulation to achieve personal agendas. If non-game resource management was a real issue, you would see more action on activities that persecute particular species in Texas, and you Texans know exactly what I mean by that. So, if you don't like what your elected representatives are doing with your nickel and how it is affecting you--then tell them to change their ways of lawmaking or prepare to pack it in with the next election cycle. Stop all the whining, or worse, advocacy of governmental overthrow and rebellion because that just brands you as extremists. Stop being sheep herded around by ignorant, prejudiced redneck fools that simply don't like strangers hanging around their town. This is 2010, not 1870, so things don't get resolved by shooting it out with your nemesis. Wake up and take political action if you don't like what's going on, you don't need money-hungry lawyers or radicals fomenting anti=government actions, you need to garner political change in your state by making it clear to your elected officials who they are working for.
OK, sorry for the tirade everyone.
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Wait a minute... - Robert Haase, Tue Jul 20 21:24:42 2010