Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a snake hobbyist form Euorpe, i own several pythons including burmese. I'm really concerned about how things are going in the US regarding the possible ban on python and boa species. Maybe here in Europe we have different way of thinking but i can't believe that from one accident like Florida's one politichians may consider to ban all large snakes. That's simply sick and shows total ignorance. In a country where it is allowed to own guns like toys, that's promoting wars around the world the pythons who killed ONE little girl are the problem? In any normal situation the parents would be jailed for long time and medias would reccomend proper caring of animals nothing more. They can ask a permit to own potentially dangerous or invasive species but screaming about the "python problem" and banning all snakes is only a way to let ignorant people feel safe and of course be quiet, forgotting real problems. Really sad!

Yeah it makes no sence. The longer I live here the better Ireland sounds(moveing there is me and my wifes dream)
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"We don't inherate the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children"

I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than what you've indicated in your post.

The ban is not on all snakes and it did not arise from one accident in Florida.

There are similar bans on exotic ownership already in place in some European countries and in Australia.

Owning guns like toys leads to wars? I won't even go there.

I was meaning that the country allows to own guns like toys AND the country is making wars around the world, not that the second is the consecuence of the first. In europe there are some bans but not as strict as it will be banning rocks burms retics and boa constrictors. If they are invasive in the Everglades just do wahat they are doing... microchip and permit.. and punish who owns them irregularry with jail. For those who are already in there, hunt em hunt em hunt em and place tem in a secure place where they can live the rest of theyr lives without causing problems.

I understand the cause and effect of the guns and war statement, I just didn't want to address it since it was 1)completely irrelevant to the python ban in the US, 2)historically inaccurate as wars have been waged in other countries for much longer than either guns have been invented or the US has been in existence and 3)simply an anti-American generalization with no logical merit.

I didn't post on the thread to argue the merits of the America system or to defend US political choices. I did want to post because there is a misconception that this python ban is happening solely in the US solely because of incidences in FL.

The python ban is a political move to get funding for Everglades restoration. The park was practically destroyed by the US Army Corp of Engineers. A few zealous politicians are acting on a golden opportunity to capitalize on the emotions of the people. It happens in politics around the world. The hard part is fighting the animal rights activists who are more organized and have more money than herpers.

The European Union is going through a similar proposed ban and has a stronger animal rights movement than the US. Norway already bans the ownership of reptiles, Australia prohibits import/export/ownership of its wildlife, and certain areas of Canada bans ownership of what it deems to be dangerous exotics. In fact, the RSPCA (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was talking of banning reptiles BACK IN 2002.

I'm really not trying to start a debate, be negative, or place blame on any country. I just want to point out that there is a strong anti-exotic sentiment AROUND THE WORLD. This is not unique to America, regardless of how anyone feels toward the US.

Ireland? Why move to a country that never had snakes?? lol