You really don't get what they are trying to tell you. You can't say one kind of snake is ok and allowed and another isn't. It does not work that way. I am licenced for venomous and I agree with that because there is a responsibility that goes beyond the norm. To have a kid with a garter snake be required to be licenced is rediculous but that is what you are proposing. One thing I learned early on. People do not value things they know nothing about, or do not come in contact with. How can we teach children to value herps when the onlty times they see one is in a book or in front of some scared ignoramus?
I have watched enough laws and restrictions fostered upon us by government "for our own good" to know that when you make a small limitation or a small law to control...they have a way of expanding into major ones.
I do not like the designer mentality or the poodle snake of the month crowd...but to protect their rights is to protect mine. A law that says they can't keep can be used to say I can't either. To agree to such legislation is to allow those who would take our rights away a foot hold.
A point to consider; The horse orrigionated in America. The first Americans hunted them to extinction for food. If the People of Europe and Asia hadn't domesticated the horse it would be extinct and the history of the world would be vastly different. The same holds true for cattle, sheep and a number of other creatures that we allowed to survive because we found a use for them and kept them. People like VIVARIUM are not paying attention to the what and the why of this thing. They think we are cruel because we keep animals. And look no further than their limited view of right and wrong. In a perfect world we would live with all the beasts of the field in harmony...That ain't how it is...
So you want to keep your Boas because you like them...Well the guy down the block doesn't like your Boas. Who gets banned? I know there are people out there who breed for the money...But snakes like; the Brooks King for example are almost extinct in nature and captive husbantry is the only hope for survival they have. Do you think people would do it for free?? Not many.
I have been involved with animal rescue all my life (out of my own pocket) and am currently involved in a project to breed certain native (LEGAL) species with the hope of being allowed to repopulate safe areas...With out the trade to help me obtain animals it would be an almost impossible task.
The bottom line is you do not protect any animal from the bulldozer by making it illegal to keep. That is where VIVARIUM is totally wrong.
Frank

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