>>That question sounds a lot like the standard issue line that the NRA gives regarding a potential assault weapons ban. If you want to debate that, I'll gladly engage you but not on this forum.

>>The fact is you can buy deadly snakes on this website's classifieds today or any other day for very little money. The only regulation I've seen is that some dealers require proof that you are at least 18. That is not enough to ensure that these snakes don't get into the hands of the uneducated, uninformed, or the irresponsible. Licensing would at least establish that whoever buys a venomous snake has taken the time to get the license and done what the license requires, just like it does with that concealed handgun law here in Texas.

>>As for illegally acquired animals, I don't forsee a black market for venomous snakes. I imagine that you'd have the same poachers and smugglers you have today with reptiles and other animals. Although I am uneducated as to efforts to stop them, I am comfortable with the fact that you often hear about customs agents thwarting these guys.

>>Cheers!



Tempest,

While I respect your opinion I disagree wholeheartedly with the correlation you have drawn here. You are comparing apples to oranges. I've yet to hear of a gun escaping from it's cage and making it's way out of the house where it could shoot a neighbor kid on it's own without some human intervention. I would gladly debate you on the effectiveness of Gun Legislation. However, before we do that, I would request that you go and gather all of the facts you can to support your argument. Not just feel-good hyperbole and wishful thinking and propoganda from the Brady's and Feinstiens, but actual verifiable numbers and studies, as well as accessible references to them. I have mine and I would want it to be a fair debate.



As far as licensing for venomous snakes, I agree that training and licensing for venomous snake keepers is a good idea. I'm normally against restrictive legislation and interference into private people's lives by government agencies. However, in this case I agree with some level of control. I have kept snakes, both venomous and non-venomous for about 35 years now. I have seen some real goofballs with snakes that they had absolutely no business owning. I've seen some pretty irresponsible actions, and I've seen some tragic results. Do I think that additional legislation and licensing will end the problems? No at all. Not a chance. Will it help? Yes, in situations where there are not already laws governing the ownership and keeping of venomous animals. The only thing it will do is to provide an avenue for prosecution for people who end up doing stupid things WITHOUT having to resort to a total ban.



We already have plenty of laws on the books everywhere with regard to ownership, possession and use of guns. All that's needed is more enforcement of existing laws.



No law is going to deter the criminal, either with regard to guns or venomous snakes. He will do what he wants regardless of what the law says. That's what criminals do. They break laws.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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