Reptile & Amphibian Forums

PLEASE everyone do your part to prevent Python BAN!!!!

CALL DAY 7/27/09- Stop Ban On ALL Pythons Nationwide!

There seems to be some confusion in the Reptile Nation about what is going on here. HR2811 if passed would Ban ALL Pythons Nationwide. This is NOT a Florida bill. It is in the US House of Representatives. This is NOT about Burmese Pythons. IT IS ABOUT ALL PYTHONS!... from Ball Pythons on up... ALL PYTHONS!!! If HR2811 passes the House and Senate as written, the trade in ALL PYTHONS IS OVER!!

Our only chance is to get the bill amended. It is going to get voted on in subcommittee on Tuesday and the full House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. If we are unable to get it amended it will include ALL PYTHONS!

USARK is calling on the entire Reptile nation to turn out for a MASSIVE calling day tomorrow, Monday July 27, 2009!!! If we fail, the ability to work with ANY Python will be devastated. Don't let this happen. We owe it to our children and future generations to be able to enjoy these animals! This is the most fantastic hobby and profession there is. DO NOT LET IT DIE!

Phone & Fax Campaign July 27, 2009: This is not a full list of the House Judiciary Committee. We will focus only on key members.

SCRIPT: My name is...... I want to register a NO on HR2811. If passed as written this bill will destroy thousands of families and small businesses. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support banning all of the different species in the genus python. Not all pythons are the same. There are many different species. Please amend the bill to address only the IMPORT of the Burmese Python. Thank you for your consideration.

Sponsor and Key Members:

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Sponsor
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4506; fax 202-226-0777
Miami: phone 305-690-5905; fax 305-690-5951

Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5792; fax 202-225-3132
Punta Gorda: phone 941-575-9101; fax 941-575-9103

Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3001; fax 202-225-5974
Boca Raton: phone 561-988-6302; fax 561-988-6423

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-7931; fax 202-226-2052
Pembroke Pines: phone 954-437-3936; fax 954-437-4776

Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) Committee Chair
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5126; fax 202-225-0072
Detroit: phone 313-961-5670; fax 313-226-2085
EMAIL: john.conyers@mail.house.gov

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) Ranking Member
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4236; fax 202-225-8628
San Antonio: phone 210-821-5024; fax 210-821-5947

Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4695; fax 202-225-3196
Van Nuys: phone 818-994-7200; fax 818-994-1050

Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3861; fax 202-225-0442

Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-3065; fax 202-225-8611
Greensboro: phone 336-333-5005; fax: 336-333-5048

Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-6365; fax 202-226-1170
Chesapeake: 757-382-0080; fax 757-382-0780

Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-4576; fax: 202-225-6328
Glendale: phone 623-776-7911; fax: 623-776-7832

Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5811; fax 202-225-1100
Thousand Oaks: phone 805-497-2224; Toll Free: (800) 423-0023; fax 805-497-0039

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Washington DC: phone 202-225-5635
New York: phone 212-367-7350

CALL, CALL, CALL!!! Our Future Depends On It! Make an avalanche of calls and bury HR2811!

Click here to donate $10 with dollar for dollar matching from Zoo Med

http://usark.org/donate.php

THIS MUST BE BIG!!! SPREAD THE WORD FOR MONDAY July 27th 2009!!!!!!

Here's the email I sent.

Dear Mr. Conyers Jr.,

I am writing in regard to a bill that is supposed to be heard in the next few days. The bill is meant to amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal. I fully understand the intent of the bill which is likely in response to recent incidents involving snakes. Ranging from the rapid expansion of invasive species in Florida to the unfortunate death of an infant in recent weeks, snakes have certainly been the subject of less than favorable press. It is, however, important to note that the subject of most of these stories is only one species within the genus Python not all species within the genus.

If you were to ask most responsible owners of snakes, it is likely that they would all agree that the Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus) is not an animal that should be kept by amateurs. Being one of the largest species of snake in the world, the Burmese Python is an animal that is meant to be respected and never treated lightly. H.R. 2811 is a bill that has good intentions but addresses too broad a spectrum of animals. The genus Python certainly includes the Burmese Python which is capable of growing close to 20 feet and 10 pounds but, it also includes Children's Pythons which grow to a maximum of 30 inches and is for all intents and purposes, harmless. Between the two extremes, the genus of Python includes 50 or so species, the majority of which do not come close to approaching the sheer size and mass of the Burmese Python.

I would urge you to amend H.R. 2811 so that it better reflects the purpose behind the bill without detrimentally affecting the community of snake keepers who are seeking to not only propagate many rare species of snakes but to also educate future generations about some of the most misunderstood and unjustifiably feared animals on the planet. I am a middle school science teacher who found science through my first love of reptiles and amphibians. I frequently use what I have learned through keeping snakes as well snakes themselves to bolster my curriculum and I can say without any hesitation that these animals have jolted the curiosity of some of my most stubborn and unmotivated students. I fear that this bill will erroneously outlaw the very animals that I care for and trust not only in my house but also in my classroom.

Once again, I understand that some species of python can certainly be viewed as dangerous but I would ask that the bill be altered to reflect a ban only on those species that have been proven to be potentially injurious rather than the entirety of the genus of Python. Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,

Paul

Actually, you've sent some incorrect information in that letter. Genus Python includes only 7 species:

P. anchietae (Angolan python)
P. curtus (Short tailed python - Blood pythons are a subspecies)
P. molurus (Indian python - Burmese are a subspecies)
P. regius (Ball/Royal python)
P. reticulatus (Reticulated python)
P. sebae (African rock python)
P. timoriensis(Timor python)

The Children's Python you mentioned is actually a member of Antaresia, not Python. Carpets and GTPs are Morelia, not Python. I think perhaps you confused family Pythonidae with genus Python. Probably not the end of the world, but still incorrect.
-----
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear