I tried to get in touch with some assembly members, but I didn't have much luck. I did talk to one guy...I can't remember who he was...he worked with one of the assembly members or something. He gave me the phone number for someone...jeez...I can't really remember who right now...my brain isn't really operating well right now because I'm worried about my mali uromastyx. Anyways, the guy I talked to said that by calling up and explaining what should be amended we were doing the right thing, and he gave me a phone number and told me to call the guy up (I think it might have been Jim Alesi...can't remember exactly what he is though). He said just explain to them what I told him and why it should be ammended to exclude large boids and monitors and what else they could do instead (I suggested a permit system...you get the right permit and you can buy, breed, sell, etc. the reptiles of your choosing). I mentioned that crocodilians, venomous, etc. etc. were already covered by other laws, but he said they were just local laws that varied from town to town and they were trying to solidify a standard law for the whole state. I don't see why though.
Also, I went to the vet today (with my mali uromastyx), and we talked about it for a while. He said the biggest problem is that you can go to nearby states and buy mountain lions, wolves, etc. He is into reptiles and birds, so he's gone to bird auctions in neiboring states before and they were also selling mountain lions, bob cats, and wolves. He says it's really a shame that they're making boids and monitors illegal now too, because there are people that come in with burms, retics, black throat monitors, etc, and if they don't get a permit within (I believe) 30 days after the law is in affect, it will be illegal for him to treat their animals.
The whole system is badly flawed right now, and we need to try to right it. I'm pretty sure if we don't get it ammended people are going to end up bringing the illegal reptiles in from neiboring states and then if they do run into a problem that requires veterinary care, they can't just bring it in to the local herp vet.
Well, I'm tired so I've got nothing more to say right now, but I'm realizing now that we need to do something, and we need to do it now.
