Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (EPW), Subcommittee on Water & Wildlife held a Hearing on S373 aka the Python Ban today at 2 PM. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman, presided. Senator Bond and Senator Levine were the only presenters. Senator Bill Nelsen, the Bill sponsor, was not in attendance to present on S373. The Hearing was brief and more of a formality in order to move 9 different bills forward quickly.

Some of you that are following USARK on Twitter got the blow by blow during the hearing. Dan Ashe, Deputy Secretary of US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), testified on S373 recommending that the Bill be amended to include all 9 snakes addressed in the recent US Geologic Survey (USGS) Report on large constrictors. Chairman Cardin indicated that USFWS should approach Senator Nelson regarding amendment. Robert Bendick of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), while acknowledging problems with the science in the USGS Report, also recommended amending S373 to include the 9 snakes.

The representative of the Humane Society of the United States was seen urging USFWS to ask Senator Nelson to amend S373 to include 45 species of Boa and Python.

‘The Burmese Python is being used by politicians and special interests to railroad the Reptile Nation!’

S373 as written would add ALL 40 species of python to the Injurious Wildlife List of the Lacey Act; the entire python genre. If amended as recommended by USFWS and TNC it would add all 4 species of anaconda and Boa Constrictor to the list. That would be 45 species in all. Although the Bill Sponsor is from Florida this is not a Florida Bill. This is federal legislation that would affect the entire country…. Including, but not limited to, Ball Pythons, Chondros, Blood Pythons, Carpet Pythons and Boa Constrictors. If passed S373 will destroy the Reptile Nation!

It is time for a gut check. Have you done everything you can to keep this nightmare scenario from happening? If you have we greatly appreciate your support!! If you have been sitting on the sidelines hoping others will take care of this for you please stand up and help now. We need members and money to fight this legislation. You can make excuses or you can take action! There is Strength in Numbers… Protect Your Rights! In the coming days USARK will ask a lot from the Reptile Nation. This is it. It is now or never. Live or die. This industry and hobby has NEVER been so close to annihilation. Please don’t go quietly into the night.

Next Thursday, December 10, 2009 S373 will go to ‘Mark Up’ before the Senate EPW Committee. This is where the Bill can be amended. USARK has submitted several amendment proposals. We have one week to have an impact! Get involved and get ready to take massive action. We have worked too hard and come too far to let it all go now! ONE WEEK!… Don’t Sit This One Out!!!

‘Get ready for a MASSIVE Grass Roots Campaign Against S373!’

Join the Reptile Nation!

***Stay Tuned For Detailed Instructions on How To Take Massive Grass Roots Action***

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Andrew Wyatt
President USARK

If it comes down to the wire and they are not budging, has anyone thought of an amendment that would ban IMPORTS from foriegn countries? It would mean no new bloodlines, but it would also mean breeders have to start working on producing unrelated animals, etc etc. Also would raise the price of almost all boas and pythons as it wont have imports retics at 15.00 to compete with.
Same with import boas, and such.
Any thoughts? I dont want anything to be banned, but what if?

What I forgot to mention so there is clarity is, the amendment would be to IMPORT pythons and boas from being brought in, but interstate travel, etc, EXPORT, would be acceptable.
In other words, no addition of python and boa to injurious wildlife act, just prohibited species to IMPORT.

THERE WILL BE NO LANGUAGE BUILT IN ALLOWING INTERSTATE COMMERCE WITH WHAT'S ALREADY HERE. Andrew has tried to get the language in to support that from day 1 to no avail. In other words all you could do is KEEP what you have but to sell anything, breed anything, etc would become a felony under the LACY ACT. DO YOU WANT THAT?
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Of course not. But that is not whats been said in regards to what amendments are trying to be added on. I thought the amendment was originally to say only african rocks and burmese?
I never heard of a import ban soley amendment, thats why I am asking/proposing if worse comes to worse. No one told me or updated me that that was one of the propositional amendments from our part. If it is, I would assume in their eyes, since so many gazillions of pythons are imported, that that would make it more feasible amendment to include in a worse case scenario, best case, they amend it to only burmese and rocks.
Either way, whats next? My macaws and fish?

At the beginning USARK was promised that language would be built into the ban allowing business as usual with the snakes already here. They also agreed to just BAN ONLY THE IMPORT OF BURMESE AND N. AFRICAN ROCK'S. The change in the wording was never done as promised [in other words they lied] even though it's hard to believe a polotician would lie..LOL..Now the wording on the bill in the SENATE still includes ALL PYTHONS AND THERE IS SOME TALK OF ADDING BOA CONSTRICTORS TO THE BILL PLUS ALL THE SPECIES ON THE NEW USGS "SCIENTIFIC PAPER" THAT HAS AS MUCH MERIT AS THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON. If the HSUS get's their way ALL SPECIES OF PYTHONS[including Balls, Carpets, GTP'S,etc] plus ALL ANACONDA'S AND BOA CONSTRICTOR'S WILL BE ADDED. Read the snippet's from yesterday's hearing on the Herp Law Forum on Kingsnake and you'll understand a lot more what is at stake here. All of us MUST get more involved for to fight effectively we must understand exactly what it is we're fighting. NO MORE CAN ANYONE SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND WATCH AND HOPE. This is NOT directed to you personally Mike as I field LOTS OF CALLS AND E-MAILS DAILY ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON...Thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Exactly-and due to the present political climate, you can rest assured that if any version makes it to the House and Senate floor-it will most likely pass! So we must amend this bill before that happens!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"Some things are flat impossible-until they're done."
Robert A. Heinlein

In my opinion...

During any battle, a step backward is only lost ground.
What I am saying is, there are no compromises when it comes to rights.

In a compromise both sides must give something up, but at the same time, both sides gain some of what they want.

We are enjoying rights that we CURRENTLY HAVE.
We need to defend ALL of our rights.
If we give something up (imports, Burmese Pythons, 9 big snakes etc.) then we have lost ground....and they have gained it.
This is NOT a compromise. What will they have given up? Nothing.
What will we have gained? Nothing.

In that sort of "compromise" we would have lost something today...and the rest tomorrow. Because they will not stop...ever.

If they succeed in falsely labeling even one species as Injurious... or as Invasive...they will then cite this as an example for the next species they intend to attack.

Giving up something (which you currently already have) in order to keep something (that you currently already have) is NOT a compromise. It is merely lost ground.

Lets not allow HSUS (or any other organization) to be the only side which gains from any of this proposed legislation.

Amend with a Compromise?

Any General who fights with that type of tactic has a name.
They call him the loser.

Look at how the NRA fights.
(regardless of how you may feel about the NRA...I just happen to love them.)
The NRA never gives up any ground....it is all fought for.
You would have to pry it out of their dead fingers.
Consequently, because they do not make these type of losing back room deals or "compromises"....they lose little ground.
We need to fight in the same manner.
PROTECT ALL OF OUR RIGHTS....or you will eventually lose all of them.
That is how I see it.

Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
970-245-7611
970-255-9255

Also the NRA puts their money where their mouth is but to date we haven't. USARK with the ability they have to pay the few lobbiest have done an outstanding job. MAKE NO MISTAKE A BILL OF SOME SORT IS 99% LIKELY TO BE PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW. When USARK and our scientist allies testified before congress it was the FIRST time the Herp Community had EVER had representation. With USARK taking on this battle with the financial resources available IT'S LIKE GOING TO THE GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL ARMED WITH A BOY SCOUT KNIFE. I am a Gold Member of USARK and have donated thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in terms of time. Gary Bagnall of Zoo-Med has matched dollar for dollar every donation until the years end. For those that think we need to do it better tell us how and help us financially. I'm in total aggreement Harlan with you. Where do we get the money to buy the nuclear weapons[more lobbiest] like the NRA has? Give us the money and battle plan and let's do it....
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

FOLK'S THIS IS NO JOKE ON THIS BILL. THE AGENDA IS TO STOP ALL TRADE IN THESE PROPOSED SPECIES IN THE U.S. WE NEED TO FORGET HOW EACH MIGHT SOMEHOW BENEFIT OR EVEN THE INDUSRTY BENEFITING BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THEIR PURPOSE. ADDITIONALLY FOR THOSE OUT THERE THAT DON'T KEEP THE HERPS LISTED TODAY DON'T THINK THEY WON'T COME AFTER YOU AND YOUR BEARDED DRAGONS OR CORNSNAKES NEXT. THIS IS AN ALL OUT ASSAULT ON THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY TARGETING HOBBIEST AND BUSINESSES THE SAME. WE MUST JOIN TOGETHER IN THIS FIGHT IN ORDER TO WIN...NEVER EVER STOP FIGHTING...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

The really disappointing thing in my mind is how dishonest our own representatives are. They are not concerned about the pythons and boas actually being a danger. If that were the case they would be pushing to eliminate dogs, cats, cigarettes, guns, and ten thousand other things first. They are only concerned about whatever HSUS and PETA want them to be concerned about because that's who lines their political pockets.

Case in point..."USGS projections show that, with climate change, the eastern shore of Maryland could become a suitable home to these deadly snakes!"

Well...with climate change, the eastern shore of Maryland could also not exist, could be 50 miles inland, could be a glacier, or the appropriate scenario...could stay exactly the same way it is now.

The politicians need to grow a set and be honest and say that they want the pythons and boas banned because one of their largest supporters/contributors wants them banned...not because they are deadly...it just makes them sound like liars. I hope that when it's time to vote that all of you keep this in mind.
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Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

Could you even imagine...

If there was honesty and integrity in government?
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

I called all six senators on the list and I faxed them as well. What else should I/We be doing? Who else can I call/fax? The HSUS, PETA, etc?

How can I help? I am scared to lose my hobby, my animals and part of my livlihood!

Kevin

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works which is hearing this bill has 19 members - you really should contact all of them and have everyone you know do so as well. We also shouldn't only be waiting until last minute to bombard them with letters, calls and emails - you know they have representatives for the opposition whispering in their ear on a daily basis - we need to be just as prominent on an ongoing basis. We need panels of experts that can present concise fact based arguments. They need facts and numbers they need reality and they need to know that they are doing what their constituency wants because irregardless of whether science says one thing - if it's going to make them look bad to the voters they aint going to favor us. We need to funnel lots of money into those that are leading the way on this.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

Does anyone have a contact list for the 19 EPW members?

Thank you very much for your efforts Kevin thus far. Additionally you could join USARK as they desperately need more funding for lobbiest etc. Other than that you've accomplished a lot and I thank you...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

i made the phone calls before the deadline and i also called after they had gone home for the day knowing that i could leave a message on their answering machines. if we call, email and fax these people constantly "not with disrespect" but as a measure of how important this issue is to us, they might get the idea that we are not a small group and that we are not going to let up. flooding them with our concerns of how important this issue is to us might tip to our favor? of course doing so before actual meetings and votes is a MUST which is exactly what we have been doing.

keep up the GREAT WORK.
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Proud supporter of USARK and Kingsnake.com
“We stand together or we fall apart”

Kyle
www.royalvariations.com

"be safe, be happy and dont let anyone make you afraid"
David Coverdale