Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm sure many of you heard about the unfortunate issue of the Dayton, OH figherfighter who was killed by his Rhino viper. Since then, the "ban everything" angry mob is again rearing it's ugly head in Ohio.

Currently, I am trying to help the Miami Valley HS deal with proposed legislation in Dayton.

We feel that this is probably right around the corner for Cincinnati as well.

The city of Dayton was trying to pass a generic “ban all exotics” law. This week, the Miami Valley HS was successful in getting a postponement. The ordinance will be re-written with some input from “herp-people”

I will be going to help these folks put together a proposal that at least MOST folks can live with and that will (hopefully) be acceptable to the Dayton City Council.

I will be using the ordinance that is in currently in effect in Cleveland, as well as the state wide laws governing herps and exotics in Florida for some ideas.

If you folks know of other cities / states that have effective laws / ordinances in effect that we may be able to use as guides please let me know.

The February meeting of the Greater Cincinnati Herpetological Society will be dedicated to discussing ideas to combat unfair legislation.

It's just a matter of time before these issues come to YOUR CITY and we should all think about standing united to create something we can all live with.

Many of us are under the belief that no laws at all are best...but I am beginning to believe that if we do not get proactive, we are all going to eventually have nasty, "ban-everything" ordinances shoved down our throats.

City council folks tend to have "emergency" meetings when something like a venomous bite that gets publicised happens, and they can have something on the books before you even know what happened.

Chris Raden supplied me with the Florida laws, I'd like to see any other laws, and in particular city ordinances, that have been passed that are "moderate" in nature. It gets tricky dealing with the city b/c they do not have DNR officers to enforce the laws, therefore they are more likely to want to go down the "ban everything" road...

I don't know how useful this will be (it's just an idea). But, like guns, poisonous snakes can kill. It's not the gun or the snake ITSELF that does the killing, it's the irresponsibility of the owner(s). Maybe something akin to a "concealed weapons permit" could be recquired for owners of venomous reptiles. VENOMOUS reptiles mind you. Maybe if we in the reptile owning community, SUPPORTED such an idea, the "ban everything" deal wouldn't raise it's ugly head ? Who knows.
Mind you, I don't like EITHER proposal/idea, but the way things COULD go (ban IT ALL) would be worse. Hopefully nothing like this will be needed, but one does wonder....

Thane

Thanes place

Unfortunately, correlations to guns, autos, heck, even dogs will not work....it can only be used to make a point but most of these people have already made up their minds. So, it will take the concerted efforts of MANY individuals to become proactive in contacting their state reps to see what can be done. Sure, throw all kinds of statistics at them (ie dogs account for MANY more deaths and attacks than reptiles....even if you look at percentages)...but unless many people become actively involved, you could be in trouble. The Chicago Herp Society has been dealing with this issue for some of the surrounding counties in the metro area (I, too, am involved with assisting with legislators, DNR, etc.).

One state that you may want to look at is Missouri....I believe they have a fair and equitable law when dealing with exotics. Illinois is definitel struggling but I hope that eventually they will come up with something that protects the rights of private individuals to keep herps.

GOOD LUCK! Rob

......
NO SNAKE BAN SITE

G

I just linked it.

Good Job Brandon!

hows about putting a link from the indigo site? Or is there one already and I didn'tsee it?

I wish I could help, Dean. You CERTAINLY don't want them modeled after Georgia's nonsensical laws.

Dean,

If you need help editing the final draft, I'm always available.

Good luck.

-Brandon
www.nosnakeban.org

Drini,
I was about to move to the City of Rolla, Mo. until I found out they already had a ban every thing law in place. I had to get the permission of the police chief, and he said "NO". I was realy ticked off, and decided to stay in the country.I don't plan on staying in this part of the u.s. anyway. I realy don't know what to do exept run for office and or try to educate the powers that be. After all these laws are a result of fear, wich is a result of ignorance.I do have the name of a snake lawyer and fellow indigo nut in Florida. If you want it, send me anE-mail, and I'll try to find it. Not sure how much help he will be but, he may be able to point you in the right direction.
Tony.