I sent a copy of this to both his addresses and to his e-mail> I would suggest that others do the same, as well as to the other voting board members


JAMES M. HOPKINS
17531 Stepping Stone Dr.
Ft. Myers, FL 33912
hopfam1@aol.com

To: Alderman: Edward M. Burke
City Hall Office: 121 N. Lasalle St.
Room 302
Chicago, IL 60602 City Hall

July 25, 2003

Dear Sir,
I feel compelled to contact you in regards to your pending amendment in regards to keeping reptiles and other exotics as pets. I must first give you some of my back ground and why I feel compelled to contact you. I neither live in your community or for that matter in your beautiful state. However, such legal restrictions tend to have a rippling type effect and do effect us all. You see, I am a hobbyist Herpculturists. I raise and breed several different types of snakes, including Boa Constrictor Sub-species, Corn and Kings Snakes and several Pythons species.
I am a father of two (two girls ages 16 and 12) and a husband. I am also a professional Law Enforcement Officer, I am Deputy Sheriff in Collier County FL. I own my own home and live a very responsible life. I make a good living, save for my children to go to college and I am well respected in the community. However if the legislation, that you members are considering, is passed in your community, I would be considered a violator of the laws in which I am sworn to up hold, if I lived in your town.
My question to you good folks would be, what is the benefit that you hope to achieve? Most legislation of this type is born of fear and misinformation. I can almost certainly be assured that your town is not crawling with thirty foot long man-eating snakes? More often then not, such legislation is because a local teenager had a Ball Python that became loose and scared someone.
The Ball Python happens to be the most common type of pet exotic snake and does not normally attain a length of more then four feet. Even some of the larger reptile species that are kept tend to be very docile and pose little to no threat to anyone. Boa Constrictors are one of the most tame snakes that can be kept (they can grow to lengths of 12 feet, but are more commonly seen at about 6’). There are more then 100 times the number of dog bites each year in the United States then there are snake bites, the number is increased again ten fold when you consider only pet or exotic snakes in the equation. I could certainly understand restrictions on venomous reptiles and even a permit type of requirement on non-venomous reptiles or other exotics. But an out right ban of these animals is of little to no use. They are a common pet that poses no danger to the public at large and they provide no complaints from noise they make (such as dogs do barking).
My concern is that you, as a law making council, are deciding on a law with out truly researching the facts. A law based on unfounded fears is of no use to anyone and provides nothing but costly enforcement and future litigation based on constitutional grounds. I would be glad to provide (via telephone, or e-mail) any needed information to truly make an informed decision on this issue.
If you have any questions until then feel free to contact me.
Thanks again
Sincerely,


James Hopkins

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