Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you live in Maryland and want to preserve your right to keep caimans and reptiles in general...
There is a bill before the state legislature right now where they are trying to outlaw some exotics.
Visit the state's website:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb0704.htm
for more information.
The hearing is 4/5/06 at 1 p.m.
We need to get as many people as possible to fight this bill.
Link

The bill passed the house and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee. A hearing (public comment encouraged) is scheduled for April 4th, Tuesday. Please note that in order to keep your CURRENTLY LEGAL CAIMAN, you must register with animal control by August 1st, but the bill doesn't go into effect until OCTOBER 1st - IF it passes.

Bill wording is here:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/bills/hb/hb0704t.pdf

If you'd like to talk or write to a senator in the Judiciary Committee, click on there names at the web site below to get their contact info. At the very least, you can contact the committee secretary and log your "support" or "oppose" statement. If you'd like to attend the hearing in Annapolis, contact the committee secretary for directions and parking suggestions. The main phone number is also on the web site below.

It wouldn't hurt to ask that CAIMAN be removed from the bill, as, as far as I know, no one has ever been killed by a caimen in the US.

http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/com/05judp.html

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE

Brian E. Frosh, Chair (410) 841-3124, (301) 858-3124
Leo E. Green, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3631, (301) 858-3631

Jennie M. Forehand
Robert J. Garagiola
John A. Giannetti, Jr.
Larry E. Haines
Ralph M. Hughes
Nancy Jacobs
Philip C. Jimeno
Alex X. Mooney
Norman R. Stone, Jr.

Miller Senate Office Building
2 East Wing
11 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401 - 1991
(410) 841-3623, (301) 858-3623
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3623 (toll free)
fax: (410) 841-3730, (301) 858-3730

They're going to outlaw all crocs in EVERY state. It's only a matter of time. I understand trying to fight against the laws but in my opinion it's a waste of time. Now of course some people aren't going to like hearing that but you're really wasting your time. People like us are considered "nuts" and you won't convince them otherwise. Then when the day comes when you ALL have to go underground like us here in NYC you won't be so "stuck up" when people like me have to worm their caimans with over the counter products.

Katrina & MARS,
I emailed the following note to all on JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS committee;

Dear Sir/Madam, It wouldn't hurt to ask that caimans be removed from the bill, So we(MD caiman owners) are requesting that Caimans be removed from HB704, if this bill should go forward. As far as I know, no one has ever been killed by a caiman in the US much less Maryland.

Plus, the cost of additional paperwork of registering caimans with animal control will be a waste of tax payer dollars, especially compared to the number of dollars lost in pet stores and associated “caiman” sales e.g. enclosures(Hardware stores), food(Supermarkets & pet stores) and heating(Hardware, pet stores & BGE). Most lizards like caimans and monitors make up the high-end purchases for pet store sales.
MD sales tax will also be lost when people won't be shopping at Home Depot, plant nurseries, and pet stores on supplies for our “high ticket” pet caimans.
Reconsider the implementation of HB704.
C

What do you think? was it a waste of time?

Well, I don't know if it made it or not. If not, it came very close, having passed two readings in the Senate (a bill has to be read three times in both houses).

Guess we'll find out later this week - today was the last day of the 2006 General Assembly, so I'm just waiting to see if the website is updated by tomorrow morning before I start calling sponsors of bills I was watching.

I think your letter was OK. It's always a good idea to show them how a bill or particular wording in a bill will affect state cash flow (either positively or negatively).

Katrina
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1.2 Eastern Muds - Fred, Ethel, Edith
0.1 Iguana - Tiffel
0.1 Bearded Dragon - Foster
Foster turtles: More than I'd like the husband to know about.