Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Two companion bills have been introduced into the Virginia General Assembly that would BAN the ownership of countless reptiles under proposed Dangerous Animal Legislation. OnJanuary 11, 2012 Senator Louise Lucas introduced SB477 Dangerous Wild Animals into the VA Senate. On January 20, 2012 Delegate Christopher Peace introduced a companion bill, HB1242, into the VA Houseof Delegates. Although the titles of the bills match, the text does not. HB1242 would seek to outlaw ALL of Boa, Python and Eunectes. Both bills are standard bill templates written bythe Animal Rights Industry. As such, both bills are poorly written by those who have little understanding of the natural history or captive husbandry of these animals. They are designed to be as broadand restrictive as possible, without any regard for the actual people they affect, nor the welfare of the animals they would displace.

Although there is a moderate occupational risk in working with certain reptiles, historically and statistically there is virtually zero public safety risk. Working with traditionallivestock and pets presents far more risk than working with reptiles. 35 people per year are killed by dogs in the US. The efforts by the Animal Rights Industry to exaggerate risk posed from captivereptiles, and sensationalize it through the media is reprehensible and irresponsible. No one outside of the keepers facility has ever been killed by a captive reptile. There is only one death in thelast 50 years in the state of VA from a captive reptile; and that was in the context of occupational hazard within the keepers facility.

Both SB477 and HB1242 have been assigned to committee. SB477 to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, and HB1242 to the Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and NaturalResources. USARK members have been lobbying door to door at the Virginia Statehouse. HSUS Lobbyists have been observed doing the same. Get involved TODAY!

***SB477 and HB1242 would completely decimate the responsible and legitimate reptile industry in VA destroying hundreds of small businesses and families, along with thousands ofjobs.

The reptile industry in Virginia represents approximately $25 million in annual trade, thousands of jobs and upwards of 100,000 animals. USARK OPPOSES HB1242 and SB477. Theyare poorly written and demonstrate what poor information the bill's sponsors received from proponents and staff. USARK asks that ALL reptiles be removed from HB1242 andSB477.

Make sure you send both letters below!

1) Click here to send letter opposing HB1242: usark.org/campaign.php?id=30

Click here to read HB1242: www.usark.org/uploads/VA%20HB1242.pdf

2) Click here to send letter opposing SB477: usark.org/campaign.php?id=29

Click here to read SB477: www.usark.org/uploads/VA%20SB477.pdf

Unfortunately the Virginia General Assembly email firewall is filtering out USARK's letter writing campaign to Stop VA Reptile BAN. Most of you have seen numerous emails kickedback as spam. In order to get around the firewall it will require everyone to do just a little more work. Please Do This... It is Extremely Important to demonstrate how many people oppose this ban.Below is two letters. One to the sponsor and committee members of SB477, and one to the sponsor and committee members of HB1242. With each letter is a list of email addresses to send the letter to.It will take a little effort to copy and paste the letter and email addresses to your own email account and send the letters, but please do it! There will very likely be a hearing on SB477next Thursday!

1) Letter for SB477: (Copy and paste letter and addresses to send an email from your own account)

district24@senate.virginia.gov, district10@senate.virginia.gov, district38@senate.virginia.gov, district15@senate.virginia.gov, district14@senate.virginia.gov, district26@senate.virginia.gov,district09@senate.virginia.gov, district34@senate.virginia.gov, district06@senate.virginia.gov, district28@senate.virginia.gov, district37@senate.virginia.gov, district20@senate.virginia.gov,district13@senate.virginia.gov, district01@senate.virginia.gov, district30@senate.virginia.gov, district18@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Lucas and Committee Members,

As a resident/stakeholder in the Virginia reptile community I appreciate your concern for public safety.However, your proposed bill is far too over reaching in regards to reptiles. Who ever assisted in the construction of the bill obviously doesn't understand the natural history or economics of reptilesin VA; nor their relatively simple captive husbandry requirements. Further, there seems to be no understanding of the difference between occupational hazard and public safety risk.

The reptile industry represents $25 million annually in commerce in Virginia. Thousands make theirliving in this State because of this business. To cavalierly destroy this non-traditional agricultural interest because of a fundamental lack of understanding is unacceptable. As written, this billwill hurt me and my family. It is bad idea to kill jobs in this kind of economy.

Working with certain reptiles entails a moderate occupational risk, buthistorically and statistically, reptiles represent virtually zero public safety risk. Dogs account for 35 deaths a year in this country. Captive reptiles less than one per year.Traditional livestock and pets have proven much more of a public safety risk than reptiles. According to US Fish & Wildlife and US Geological Services studies, the rare event of a death as theresult of a captive reptile falls into the category of occupational hazard. There is no record whatsoever of a captive reptile creating any measurable risk to the public...NEVER!

Please remove ALL reptiles from SB 477. Thank you.

Sincerely,

2) Letter for HB1242: (Copy and paste letter and addresses to send an email from yourown account)

DelCPeace@house.virginia.gov, DelRTyler@house.virginia.gov, DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov, DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov, DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov, DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov,DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov, DelMJames@house.virginia.gov, DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Peace and Committee Members,

As a resident/stakeholder in the Virginia reptile community I appreciate your concern for public safety. However, your proposed bill is far too over reaching in regards to reptiles. Who everassisted in the construction of the bill obviously doesn't understand the natural history or economics of reptiles in VA; nor their relatively simple captive husbandry requirements. Further, thereseems to be no understanding of the difference between occupational hazard and public safety risk.

The reptile industry represents $25 million annually in commerce in Virginia. Thousands make their living in this State because of this business. To cavalierly destroy this non-traditionalagricultural interest because of a fundamental lack of understanding is unacceptable. As written, this bill will hurt me and my family. It is bad idea to kill jobs in this kind of economy.

Working with certain reptiles entails a moderate occupational risk, but historically and statistically, reptiles represent virtually zero public safetyrisk. Dogs account for 35 deaths a year in this country. Captive reptiles less than one per year. Traditional livestock and pets have proven much more of a public safety risk than reptiles.According to US Fish & Wildlife and US Geological Services studies, the rare event of a death as the result of a captive reptile falls into the category of occupational hazard. Thereis no record whatsoever of a captive reptile creating any measurable risk to the public... NEVER!

Please remove ALL reptiles from HB1242. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Please Do This Today!

I also noticed my emails blocked and sent back. I thought it was just my computer.

KL