Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greatings to all. I am realativley new to the internet and to the forums, but Iv'e been playing with snakes for about fourty years. Over the years I have seen every kind of prejudice against us and our beloved reptiles. Now I am seeing rediculous laws popping up all over the country.

We have local herp societies almost everywhere. Many states have quite a few. Why then don't we put them all together into a National Herp Society. We could have almost as much power as the N.R.A. If they were as fragmented and seperated as we are, there would be no second ammendment. And I fear that if we don't get it together, we will loose all rights to keep herps. It is happenning at an alrming rate all over the country.

In Austrailia, the gun owners were complacint like we are. Now there are no more gun owners in that country. Is that the road we want to go down?

It seems to me that the best thing we can do for ourslves would be to unite all the herp societies all across the country into one, and make a stand against the errosion of liberty which is currently taking place. What are your thoughts? Thanks,
Tony-thesnakeman-Carlisle
thesnakeman@centurytel.net

What we need to do is get updated contact info for all the herp society, get all the big companies in line that have the huge mailing lists and use the already established chains of communication that are out there. I spoke to Jeff B and a bunch of other last year about this during the Chicago ordeal. They had a natioal herp society they tried to get going but nobody wanted to get involved and it didnt work out. The best thing we can do is get the flow of communication opened up. have laisons in each state(preferablly a member of a herp society) that when something happens can rapidly contact all the societys within their state, get the info to the societies so it can passed throughout the members. We can also use pet store that carry reptiles and supply dealers such as LLL that are willing to get involved. When I called some of the big dealer the other day I had one that pretty much told me to go get screwed they got better things to do. We need to make people realize that with an attitude like that were all going to be out of buis.

Anyway I tried this last year and only a couple people wanted to help but lets give it a run again. Ill need a few people who can contact the herp societies, pet stores etc. I am going to talk to the chicago herp tomorrow for some more ideas but we need to get one volenteer from a herp society for each state. If we can get one person from each state that would be willing to donate time as a liason that would get this up and going and we could build it from there. So anyone who is willing to help drop me an email, I have a boat load of work thats been put off all week so I wont be able to get back to ya till sunday but sunday well get the ball rolling.
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Jason & Danica
Well, I'm off my rocker, I fell out of my tree, I've been standin' on shaky ground, There's no helping me, yeah, I can't remember my number, I can't remember your name
I can't remember all the trouble I'm in, child....... Well, I'm insane(Ratt, Im Insane)
Classic Dums frozen feeders

One of the strongest groups is PIJAC the Pet Industry Joint Advisary Council. They have the lobbyists, scientists and experts in place to fight these contrary laws that are trying to get passed. They are already working to fight the NY state laws. By the time you get the National Herp Society organized it may be too late to be of any good in some states. It still is a good idea but right now you need to get behind PIJAC in the current struggle.

PIJAC National Reptile Improvement Plan This is one step that PIJAC is taking regarding reptiles. Check out their site for other info on legislation.

Its well worth the cost of the membership to save our hobby and in some cases our profession.
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Hope this helps.

BigT

I totally agree about pijac I spoke to marshal last year and he thought this was a good idea

Heres the probems I see with the reptile community, communication among the herp societies, buisnesses and show promoters. Those are the people that have the memeber bases and mailing lists to repond to issues such as this NY ordeal rapidly. Last year we got lucky and stopped Chicago that was because all of you jumped in and did your part for all of us, NY is still in limbo. What we would need to do is get a herp society or show promoter from each state to gives us one volenteer for each state. When laws come down the line we then pass it on to each "liason" for that state who in turn passes the info to each herp society, reptile show and any large buisnesses willing to get involved. They then pass it on and get the member/customer bases active, writing calling etc. etc. I know everyone says there is power in organized numbers but there is also power in individual numbers. Politicians pay attention to organized lobbying groups but they also pay attention to strong responces from large numbers of individuals, those individuals make up the bulk of their voter base. When they get 1500, 2000, 3000 letters from "dissorganized" individuals voicing similar opnions on a certain issue it shows them that issue is not a popular one. Ive already bought www.reptilenation.org and over the next few weeks will get the site up and going. Im not looking to step on the toies of PIJAC or anyone else I spoke with Marshal Myers from PIJAC last year about this and he agrees its a good idea. PIJAC only has so much money and so much time they cant fight every battle. But the thing is I need help. I cant do it all. I posted about this last year and only a couple people wanted to help. Sorry I dont have any money to pay anyone this is volenteer work for better of the community as a whole. What I will need now is some people who are will to contact herp societies, show promoters etc to let them know we are getting this thing up and going and see if they can provide a someone to be the "liason" for that state. Drop me an email or post here if you got some extra time and are willing to help thanks
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Jason & Danica
Well, I'm off my rocker, I fell out of my tree, I've been standin' on shaky ground, There's no helping me, yeah, I can't remember my number, I can't remember your name
I can't remember all the trouble I'm in, child....... Well, I'm insane(Ratt, Im Insane)
Classic Dums frozen feeders

I've been to the PIJAC website for the last three days and there is no mention of the NY State bill. Is someone there asleep at the wheel? They should have had this in their "Breaking News" section way before we started with our forum notices, e-mails and phone calls.

Come on, PIJAC, $h*t or get off the pot.

Bill

One of the strongest groups is PIJAC the Pet Industry Joint Advisary Council. They have the lobbyists, scientists and experts in place to fight these contrary laws that are trying to get passed. They are already working to fight the NY state laws. By the time you get the National Herp Society organized it may be too late to be of any good in some states. It still is a good idea but right now you need to get behind PIJAC in the current struggle.

PIJAC National Reptile Improvement Plan This is one step that PIJAC is taking regarding reptiles. Check out their site for other info on legislation.

Its well worth the cost of the membership to save our hobby and in some cases our profession.
PIJAC National Reptile Improvement Plan

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Hope this helps.

BigT

I will be happy to volunteer for Missouri. I am not currently a member of any society here, as I live in the stix, but I know some people. I will contact the herp societies here. I think there are three.

I have also contacted the big boys at Big Apple Herp. They sound very interested! HALALOOYA!

Also, let me take a moment to properly introduce myself, as I think we all should,...My name is Anthony Carlisle. My freinds call me Tony. I am not a big breeder, but I have been around a while. Snakes and freedom are two of my passions. I'll be back.
Tony.

I have talked to big apple, and they sound very interested. Now someone needs to get ahold of big pet stores like Pet Wharehouse. Who is willing to do that?
Tony.

I hate to be a naysayer but corporate pet stores seem to only be interested in profit not causes. Unless you can show them how it can benefit them finacially I don't think they would get involved. They'd rather just not sell herps and have more room for dog food.
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Hope this helps.

BigT

That's probably because they are affiliated with The American Kennel Club, and The Humane Society, our mortal enemy. That's why we must be careful in not alowing ourselves to be affiliated with any such entity. If they don't want on board, that's fine. But They will miss out in the long run. Bigappleherp, on the other hand has recognized the historic value of there involvement, and it's potential benifits, and is very interested in all of this. I say buy your stuff only from those who are willing to stand with us. Boycot everyone else.
Tony.

Well, as I've stated in other forums, I may not have a lot of time on my hands right now because of med school, but I am 100% behind trying to establish a national organization of herpers.

First phase: Herper Round-Up, find "state herp senators" from state societies, breeders, writers (Jeff Ronne? Bob Applegate? Bob Clark?), anyone who has something to offer...even a little bit of their time.