Cindy Steinle requested that I express my view on this blog; specifically one of my rants on facebook. I have edited it to a PG level so please know that when I use "frickin", I truly mean another word ...OK
I've also added the previous evenings rant as well....because I am as mad as Hades and I am not going to take it anymore!!
Please refer to the youtube link...while the sentiment is of a different motive and era, the message is EXACTLY the same!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBZDwf9dok
Pondering again (January 20th)...
If USARK states that they can intervene and possibly stop the python ban officially getting enacted within the next 56 days now but it will cost another $150,000 to do so....why the heck isn't every breeder stepping up and ponying in $10-15k (more or less...whatever...) and making that happen!!
Quite frankly, I'll sell my entire collection RIGHT NOW of 100 various reptiles, cages, heat sources EVERYTHING for $50,000 plus transport fees and immediately donate all of it to USARK if they can guarantee to get it STOPPED. I can overcome and rebuild. And all of that while the python ban does not directly have an impact on me because I was thoroughly screwed over in 2005 when NY passed the total ban which makes this heated ban look like child's play!! I'm willing to put up 1/3 of their "required" cost...and I don't have squat except the true passion enough to sacrifice all for the benefit of many.
Yet, many of the mega breeders boast, brag or flaunt that they have a SINGLE morph priced at $20,000; they actually have several that are priced that way. I know of one facility in the northeast that has well over a million dollars worth of these specialty morphs. The one in particular has already made youtube rants on how much this will be a negative impact....really? Most of the morphs aren't on the ban...this time. Ball Pythons may very well make it next time...or boa constrictors.
IF I am willing to put that up, why the heck aren't the breeders (or even avid owners) pouring money out because it's THEIR industry that is getting buried!!The old timers (and I mean old time) put their darn houses on 2nd mortgage in order to start breeding these...starting with the first albino strains back in the day. The vast majority of these mega breeders are the same as of today plus some "new" faces. I'd hate to think they are like every other big business and doesn't give a rat's arse about the little guy....although it's the little guy that this movement ban is all about....even though the mega breeders can still ship overseas or within their own state; they get hit financially but still in business.
I guess I'm confused, annoyed, p*ssed off, irritated and overall perplexed that everyone talks a good talk until it comes time to take action. Andrew Wyatt and USARK can only do so much...we've all given $25, $100 maybe $1000 or more....all for the "WHAT IF..." scenario...well...I would guess the time is here.
I'm rambling....I do that.
Sorry Herp America...perhaps next time don't sit on your arse and do nothing but rant on facebook....still sarcastically p*ssed....
Can you imagine if I actually drank just how much of an arse I would be?
I suppose Jay, Brian, Tommy and many others aren't going to get hit that hard over this...a big hit but they'll just move onto acceptable non-banned animals to fill the void within the US and maintain their breeding of those banned for the overseas market....all the while driving the price up; filling what was lost due to this newly adopted Lacey Act amendment.
Then again...big frickin' deal if this ban does gets enacted. It basically means you remain status quo with the snakes that are already owned or can readily purchase within your own state. Is everyone that transient that they are moving THAT frequently out of state that this ban is really an issue? I cannot even own the frickin' things in NY...at least you still have that right!!
OH YES, can't forget the military when they get deployed out. Guess what, anyone have any idea just how many "banned" snakes we have in NY on military bases because that is Federal land and NY Law does not apply? HUNDREDS!!! Because everytime the troops get deployed out of Fort Drum, the snakes get dumped or sold or relocated by the service persons...the vast majority don't care if they loose their pet....more important things on their mind like oh, perhaps loosing their life.
So...stop your pampered whining (myself included)...be happy with what you have and perhaps next time get off your armchairs and DO SOMETHING more than idle chatter!!!
And from a previous night's rant:
Pondering here tonight (January 19th)....
Much like what was done in the eleventh hour of New York State's Prohibited Exotic Animals enacted in 2005 after the Bill was passed but prior to final signing into Law; well paid and manipulated attorneys did a final edit which added some animals (including some reptiles) to the list cited....I am wondering with an educated guess that the following will be added to the Lacey Act Python Ban description of those banned including regal pythons, green anacondas (all ssp), reticulated pythons, amethystine pythons (all ssp) and boa constrictors (all ssp).
If not now, I am sadly confident that they will be added by amendment within a year afterwards UNLESS an injunction can be filed before the remaining 57 days expire.For those that think that it is impossible to happen, I will refer you to the differences between New York States Bill comparing it to the final Law; after you get done shitting yourself from this atrocity...I think you may agree that it is indeed possible.
http://www.scalesandtails.com/pdf/Law.pdf
What all of you have been feeling for the past 48 hours, I and fellow herpers have been "pleasured" by since 2005 in New York State.What I STRONGLY suggest is to make sure that you have COMPLETE documentation of all snakes that you may have currently that are on the list; you will have to prove ownership and age from this point forward. New York State grandfathered those already in existence at the time our law was enacted but MISERABLY FAILED to provide the bureaucratic paperwork trail that was required to keep the banned animals!!! In turn, causing many innocent, honest & worthy snake owners to surrender their banned snakes and possibly be fined for owning a banned snake without proper license....a license that New York State to this day does not provide!!!!!!
Catch22...you betcha!!
Be forewarned, this will get VERY UGLY at the National Level...already has.
Please keep in mind that this new addition to the Lacey Act has zero impact on me personally but I have MANY friends, acquaintances and respect numerous breeders, large and small that this does have a negative impact upon. One breeder in particular, I have a grave distaste for BUT I do respect that even he is going to feel the pain and I do have compassion for his situation and will be standing by his side fighting along side because this will eventually touch each and every one of us in the herpetological community. United we stand, divided we fall...
First, USARK needs to update their website and give us a plan. It's tough to go "all in" behind a nebulous statement about trying to stop this thing. USARK, if you've got a plan, PLEASE tell. Shout it from the rooftops. And I, for one, will go "all in" to help the effort.
Which brings me to my second point, and you all should do this now (at least do it this week!), call/write and ask your Senators and Congressmen how in the world we citizens should be subject to a federal "law" that did not pass through the legislative process. There was no bill, no committees, no hearings, no vote. And WE had no voice. Your representatives are your voice in the law-making process! We have a representative government and "work arounds" like this are an affront to the spirit of our system of government! So when "they" can't get what "they" want through the legitimate legislative process (bill - debates - Senate vote, Congress vote - law), they just declare a law anyway??? Come on! Kings do that! Dictators do that! How can this circumvention of American government procedure be acceptable to any administration?
My Senator emailed me the week before this happened, informing me that the proposed "constrictor rule" law was a dead issue and that it would have to be re-introduced into the legislature as a bill and go through the process for a law to result. And then... SURPRISE!
Scream and holler about it (respectfully) and maybe one of us will find a sympathetic ear.
Look around and see who gets the attention - and the action. It's the loudest, most persistent whiners. We all need to whine a lot more and a lot louder.
It's important to remember that nobody among us is arguing against working on the problem in the everglades. The issue right now is that a far-reaching, nation-wide "law" of seriously questionable usefulness has been imposed on hundreds of thousands (millions? more?) of citizens, in violation of what I always understood to be the legislative process of the American Government. Ask them how can one be expected to trust such a government?
Finally, absolutely drop your support for the animal "welfare" type interest groups pushing these sorts of bans and prohibitions, and urge your family and friends to do likewise. If you feel the need to help the animals, donate money, food, or, better yet, donate your time to a local animal shelter or wildlife rehabilitator.
Don't quit on this.
cheers -
Mike
New Jersey