Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well Guys I see everyone Up in arms about the post.

Its one of the only good pics I had of the Just Hatched animal.It was not Ego, It was a Beautiful pic.

And I did Have the Disclaimer. More then what you would see on Say Most of the animal shows on TV. Speaking of which I have been On animal Planet as a Reptile Expert Handling Venomous animals. No one Up in arms with that...Why?

A fresh Hatching Monocled(less than 12 hours out of egg) Will hood But I have yet to have one try to bite ( I have hatched about 1000). And the question of could it bite. Sure it could.I of course I would see that and drop it before it did. Thus A Experienced Handler.

Also most elapid bites occur during feeding" the worst possible bite due to its biting to kill pray. A hatchling does not have the feeding response yet its still living off its yolk.

Some other points:
A more common occurrence such as an Elderly person hitting the gas instead of the brakes and kills you. No legislation for stopping elderly people from driving. Why Because the Media really does not push it and they are a huge group of people with lots of $$$. They just say Poor old guy.

How many people Died or were seriously injured from riding Quad runners last year, 3 times the amount from 3 years ago "It was around 1600". Yet there popularity has increased, And all the government does is say Please have a driving safety pamphlet to give out. Why because its fun. They do not see our joy with these animals there for they do not see our rights.

How many people die from guns. But Gun owners have the NRA

The true problem here is we do not fight for our rights.
We are too busy Squabbling about ourselves. If we could organize to a true National organization we could make a difference.

But most are afraid of what people think or will say to stick up for our rights. We are stuck with the stigma of Loving reptiles. No matter if there hott or not We are Odd in the public eye.

I however I have fought for my rights. And will continue to do so.
We as Americans have the right to pursue happiness. If keeping Venomous Reptiles make me happy and it does not impede on anyone else what's the problem. The problem is the General Publics lack of knowledge. People do not like what they do not know. Its human nature.

If the Government made it a little easier to get antivenin with out all the paper work we would be in better shape.But We can't. Yet Huge drug makers who back the Government with $$$ Get to put Dangerous drugs on the market with a warning.

NY just passed a ban on animals that pose almost no threat! Just that they could pose one. What's wrong with this picture.

The true problem POLITICS!

I could go on and on. But I am working on a show which will address these issues and many more. I am attempting to get everyone together on this. Posting derogatory remarks against each other just fuels the fire for the People trying to stop us from having any reptiles. They see this and say they can't even get along with themselves which makes us easy pray.

We need to Stick together. Does anyone out there get this????

I asked if the ad was the same pic as the one on your site because I was simply curious-yes, they are nice pictures. The reason I asked the way I did was so I wouldn't point out for sure that it was you(or call attention to the other pic if it wasn't).

Tell me/us why you opted to go with a pic handling the new-ling. You have so many other ways of depicting the animal in an artisticly pleasing picture, but you opted for one that Im sure you knew was gonna cause a fire. Why?
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

n/p

Are you nuts? Can you read at all?
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Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Hi Mitch:

Thanks for speaking up on this very important topic. I'm in agreement with you that your photgraph was not done as an ego thing but done to get the best picture of your LC you could by yourself. I've chatted with you at various shows over the past few years and you were a "low key guy" that lets his animals steal the show. Okay, no question it's risky but how many of us have hatched 1000 cobras and we always say experience counts when working HOT snakes.

Enough said, lets move to the bigger picture you touched on: What as a group can we do to combat "feel good" laws from being passed that serve no purpose but to give the lawmakers something to pat themselves on the back about. I posted this piece on the SHHS website after one "Pissing match" over a related topic trying to pull everyone together. No one rallied to the cause.

"What is needed NOW is for people to keep a very close eye on their State houses for activity that effects US as a group. Matt(Harris)and I are flat out with the AV Bank which we hope to duplicate and spread out to cover as many states as possible. It's formation will be the cornerstone of any defense we mount against BANS. We need a National Organization to unite our Banner against those who would ban our hobby. WE need a LEADER to step forward to take this and run with it."

Matt & I have had many people asking to help with the A/V Bank and of course we are grateful for the offers. We have all of the detail regarding the bank mostly under control and plan to file the paperwork within a few weeks. What we need is what I called for on the SHHS site and now here: We have to come together and form an Organization such as; North American Reptile Keepers Association. Just an idea of a name but something on this order. It would include keepers of large constrictors, Crocs & kin and last but not least Venomous keepers. We are all in the same sort of boat, therefore our cause is in common.

Then as Mitch said, WE would be in a better position to fight for our rights, just as the early labor unions fought for workers rights. I do get it Mitch, simple time tested rule "United we Stand, Divided we Fall"

Who will step forward and work with me to get this going? No wimps or quitters need apply. Time is short and there is much to do.

Al Coritz
www.neavb.org

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The more people I meet...the better I like my venomous snakes.

My position in my state is already very harsh. We have a 15 ft law state wide on large constrictors, an all out venomous ban with no permit system in place and highly unlikely we will have one, and the crocadilian laws are all over the place. Even with this I am proactive and not reactive to this. Not to say I do not push against new things coming up to futher hurt us (and they do all the time) but my focus is primarily on the foward path. My organization takes every chance it can and works hard to demostrate a positive view to the public and educate other keepers on responsibility. I have other herpetological societies wanting to work with me and my organization as well. While some I do not fully think have the best ideas, I still and willing to support them for the best thing they are since a fight between us is not what we need. I know 2 quite large herpetological societies who do not get along in any way. It is my belief this is not what we need right now and I can still voice my opinion without a fight. I would love to get involved with a national organization and there is nothing I would not do for this hobby (with the exception of irrational terrorist action). I am with you and certainly not lazy.

Al, you know that I am in and my wildlife center will fully support your efforts in any way that we are able to (political connections since we are a department of a city government and I know a number of politicians who support my facility, etc.). Keep me posted.

>>Hi Mitch:
>>
>>Thanks for speaking up on this very important topic. I'm in agreement with you that your photgraph was not done as an ego thing but done to get the best picture of your LC you could by yourself. I've chatted with you at various shows over the past few years and you were a "low key guy" that lets his animals steal the show. Okay, no question it's risky but how many of us have hatched 1000 cobras and we always say experience counts when working HOT snakes.
>>
>>
>>Enough said, lets move to the bigger picture you touched on: What as a group can we do to combat "feel good" laws from being passed that serve no purpose but to give the lawmakers something to pat themselves on the back about. I posted this piece on the SHHS website after one "Pissing match" over a related topic trying to pull everyone together. No one rallied to the cause.
>>
>>
>>"What is needed NOW is for people to keep a very close eye on their State houses for activity that effects US as a group. Matt(Harris)and I are flat out with the AV Bank which we hope to duplicate and spread out to cover as many states as possible. It's formation will be the cornerstone of any defense we mount against BANS. We need a National Organization to unite our Banner against those who would ban our hobby. WE need a LEADER to step forward to take this and run with it."
>>
>>Matt & I have had many people asking to help with the A/V Bank and of course we are grateful for the offers. We have all of the detail regarding the bank mostly under control and plan to file the paperwork within a few weeks. What we need is what I called for on the SHHS site and now here: We have to come together and form an Organization such as; North American Reptile Keepers Association. Just an idea of a name but something on this order. It would include keepers of large constrictors, Crocs & kin and last but not least Venomous keepers. We are all in the same sort of boat, therefore our cause is in common.
>>
>>Then as Mitch said, WE would be in a better position to fight for our rights, just as the early labor unions fought for workers rights. I do get it Mitch, simple time tested rule "United we Stand, Divided we Fall"
>>
>>Who will step forward and work with me to get this going? No wimps or quitters need apply. Time is short and there is much to do.
>>
>>Al Coritz
>>www.neavb.org
>>
>>-----
>>The more people I meet...the better I like my venomous snakes.
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

"How many people die from guns?" Hey thats a bit off the subject, but if we can blame the death of people on guns, can I blame my pencile for misspelled words?

Sorry, couldnt resist....

I too enjoy the application of sarcasm. However, we really do have to resist "chewing" on each other and find some common ground and start fighting the "right people". So far only one person stood up to be counted, anybody else out there?

Al
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The more people I meet...the better I like my venomous snakes.

I am willing to do whatver it takes to get this off the ground.... Whatever you need, let me know.....

np

I'm interested. I have my hands full getting ready for spring break. I'm free after that.

A bit off topic, but how do you find buyers for all your cobra hatchlings? 1000! Is the hot hobby that huge? You must pardon me on being a bit green because my province has had a venomous ban in place since before I was born.

Also Al, I totally support what you're trying to do and I hope many others will follow you (quite kidding yourself, you know you'll be the leader ). While being in another country I also have many other things that prevent me from being a serious volunteer in your endeavor for the time being. I wish you well, and if some sort of NRA type association comes of this, I'm sure in time all these banned states will be pressured into having a permit system.