Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was talking to a local reptile shop owner today, and he says he has been calling every new york assembly person. Basically he just picks one a day and calls. He said he recently realized that the way to really get them to listen is to just ask them, calmly, why the ban is unnecessary and redundant. Tell them why this is so important to you and the other reptile owners in new york, and across the nation, and do this WITHOUT getting dramatic about it. Just calmly state the situation. Then, the important part, you ask the person "What can we do to get rid of this new ban?". If you just state your opinion on the ban, all they have to do is pretend to listen. If you actually ask them a question that is somewhat reasonable (like this), they have to reply. If they don't have an answer, ask them if you can call them back at a later date (remember what date) after they find out.

I think this is probably the best strategy, and one that I'm going to implement. Let me know what you think.

third line: replace the word "ask" to "tell"...."tell them why..."

when I talked to an assemblyman(whom I will not name, but he was not mine, haven’t talked to mine just yet) he didn’t even know why he voted for the ban. I knew he wouldn’t listen if I chattered, so I just asked some really killer questions. I was surprised and disappointed. I thought I would end up debating the reasoning of the bill, why weren’t dogs and horses added if its to protect people from dangerous animals etc.... essentially showing him that he had a misconception. Instead, he had NO OPINION or information, not even BAD information. He didn’t research the bill, the implications etc. he said he had a "gut feeling" (I'm not kidding that’s what he said was the reasoning behind his yea vote) that the bill was needed. I mean, YEAH that is SO DISAPPOINTING but they have a lot of bills to pass during the year, and there’s no way to properly do their jobs, so YES I'm pissed but I'm also not trying to be a pinhead and think of things from their perspective. Anyway, yeah its a good idea to ask them questions, because all of a sudden the situation directly involves them. don’t say "get rid of the ban" say amendment, since they cant get rid of the ban altogether, (technically they can, but in all reality its impossible) and that would be too ambitious. if you limit your request to the section of the bill you want changed, the assemblyman would probably be more receptive, since that prospect would be easier. ALSO. be sure to do this last thing...these guys are NOT altruistic. Think of something that’s in it for them, good publicity etc. I tend to ramble, sorry
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- Happy herping!

KE

It has been my personal experience dealing with any type of government official from the lowest town people to senators is that the vast majority are not worth the space they occupy on this earth. They don't know their b#$$s from a hole in the ground, do not research anything other than what will personally benefit themselves or their rich counterparts and when voting, do not look at the implications of their votes. It is sad to see, but it happens daily. Look at our federal government to see how intelligent and helpful our elected officials are. I love how government overspends and then decides they will pass on their mistakes to guess who...all of us. I wish I had that option. All you can do is keep on trying, but I don't know how much impact it will have. Reptile bans are probably not very high up on their list or priorities. Good luck!

Pam

Start with the assembly memeber and state senator that represent you. These guys are elected and paid to represent their constituents. If you are one of them, they'll pay more attention. After all, they want YOUR vote in the next election.

Luke

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S07616

at the bottom there's a list of the people who voted. I think first we should all call up the two people that voted no (only two!?!) and explain to them how much it means to the herp community and everything. It will be easiest to get them on our side that the new law has to be changed.

Then we need to try to break ground with all those people that voted yes on the bill. Best to start with those in your area, and the branch out if you have the time. We just need to inform them as to how and why the new law should be changed. I for one thing that the law as a whole was unnecessary. We were already well regulated. But, it will be easier just to get them to change the important parts, like making boids and monitors legal again (or switching them to a permit system), and getting the venomous and crocodilians back to a permit system (I believe crocodilians were something you needed a permit for weren't they?).

I didn't see a problem with the way things were going before this law. Somehow the assemblymen/women thought that there was a need for it, and we need to show them otherwise. We need to show them that it's unnecessary and that some people should be allowed to own the more dangerous reptiles.

I just think it's a shame. I could understand a permit system but a full ban is just ridiculous. There is no other state in the US that is as strict.

Great post. Yes, you had to have a permit to have a croc, and since most crocodiliands are endangered/threatened, you had to have an endangered species permit too. Sweeney is now a congressman I believe, so we are down to Assemblyman Hooker as somebody we know is opposed to the ban, for whatever reasons.
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- Happy herping!

KE

n/p
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- Happy herping!

KE