Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today I contacted the head Dnr office in Atlanta Georgia. I talked to a lady dnr officer and I found out that the dnr is working with legislator to change the law where you can have corns or eastern kings and even brooksis. The bad part is that they will not meet till nexy year to go over this law. I was however able to find out the next time the dnr would have a meeting and the public can come. The next meetings are on

10/28/03 11:00am dnr board room
10/28/03 1:00pm dnr board room
10/29/03 10:00 am dnr board room

The address of the dnr office is
2 Martin Luther King Drive SE suite 1252 East Atlanta, GA 30334
Their phone number is 770-918-6403.

the link is http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/

Yeah, this has been going on for a few years now. But, every time they meet to discuss it, no one (or not enough people) shows up to lobby for changing the law and they just shelve it for the next year.

Unfortunately, passing laws is a complicated issue.
They tried to pass legislation this year (early, Feb/Mar timeframe) that would make it legal to keep mainstream pet trade snakes like kingsnakes and corn snakes.
In true politician fashion, someone attached a rider that would make it legal to hunt over bait (which they only recently made illegal). Rather than lose the ground that they felt that they had gained in banning hunting over bait, they withdrew the proposal to legalize snake keeping. I recognize that the two issues (snake keeping vs hunting over bait) have nothing to do with each other, that's just the way lawmaking goes.
I hope that it passes. I know several people at GA DNR want to legalize snake keeping. It is just difficult to get it passed without giving up something else worthwhile.
Karl H. Betz

I belive if enough people came to the dnr's meetings then the law could be changed. The problem is getting the people together to go to the meetings. I thought by maybe posting the information that people would see it and be interested in it.

john

I was not demeaning your efforts at all!
I am a big advocate of people getting off of their butts and participating instead of sitting in front of their computers and griping.
I will make sure that the members of the Southeastern Hot Herp Society are aware of the schedule you posted.
Karl H. Betz
Vice President
Southeastern Hot Herp Society
venomousreptiles.org
Southeastern Hot Herp Society

Yeah I belive if we got enough people to go to the meeting then something could be accomplished the problem is getting enough people together. they will also have meetings to in december and i will post them later on.

john

lets all try and plan to make the same meet!

I am going to try to go to the meetings. I may not be able to though cuz I have class.

john