** REPTILE BAN LEGISLATION**MORE INFO ADDED

[Darrin_Brasher]

Dear Reptile Enthusiast:

The New York Senate and Assembly have moved to pass legislation that would bann the sale and severely restrict ownership of many pet reptiles, including larger monitor species and all members of the family boidae.  This includes even small, harmless species such as ball pythons and sand boas!  This law has been debated for several years now, but now looks to be moving forward.....

Here is a link to view the proposed law: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02684&sh=t

In order for this legislation to become law, it must be signed by Governor Pataki, which could happen very soon!!  If you are a New York state resident, please email the governor as soon as possible, asking him to veto this legislation!!  Please be polite and to the point, but indicate the absurdity of banning small, harmless species such as ball pythons and sand boas!  These present NO threat to public safety!

Residents of other states can also stress that they still spend their dollars at our reptile expo in White Plains, purchasing harmless pet reptiles from in many cases NY breeders and dealers.  All that sales tax money goes to NY!

Governor Patacki can be emailed through this site: http://161.11.3.75/

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Bruce Lowder
NY Reptile Expo

[Randy_T.]

I sent an email.. Hopefully this one will be shot down as many others around the Nation have been.

[keysersoze]

I live in New York City, and I just sent him an email myself.

This is just another case of our government proving itself incapable of treating complicated subjects with an equally complicated, and informed plan. Issues that should be dissected and dealt with in parts are always painted with all too broad strokes...the classic all-or-nothing response.

"Big snakes? What family are they from? Boidae? We gotta ban em all!"

"Assault weapons ban? Well, gollie, Jasper. If I let em take my uzi and my AK-47, they'll be coming back for by shotgun next month!"

Here's to electing people at all levels of government who are good at seeing "the big picture"...and to everyone's right to own a boa constrictor, and a handgun/sporting gun.

[Darrin_Brasher]

Thanks Randy . A man after my own heart keysersoze. Lets encourage everyone we know to do the same ,reptile lover or not . I was part of stopping the .50 BMG ban in Ca. last year and the e-mail and letter campaign worked . We are indeed overwhelmed with freedom grabbers who wanna be our mommies and daddies who believe they must control our "free for now society" . One man alone cannot do the work that is necessary, but if we all dont take a stand demanding our rights be left alone we will soon cease to be citizens but subjects .With all that has happened in NY the last thing that should be on the agenda is stripping freedoms from our hobbies and businesses relating to herps. Freedom has never been free but paid for in many ways . I hope folks here dont think they are safe and it will never hit their state because it will . We must all take a stand and protect what we love and we must do it NOW !!!

[Bushbaby]

Good luck guys!! They have tried something similiar in our country but only with lizards (so far) and I am sure that it would not stop there!! Why the hell do people have pick on the reptile keepers. I think reptile keepers are some of the most responsible out there when it comes to pet animals. How many stray dogs and cats are there. How many dogs and cats run away each and every year. I am sure hundreds, if not thousands!! Only a handfull of reptiles ever escape, that I am pretty sure of. It's just not right!! It's only because we are a minority that they do this. I hope you guys stand together and get it sorted out!!

Good luck!!

[keysersoze]

I would once again like to urge all members of this forum to take the time to send a well-written, respectful email to Governor Pataki concerning Bill A02684, even if you don't live in NY.  

This bill would make it illegal to own, sell, and breed all members of family Boidae, which includes all pythons and boas, no matter what the size.  Imagine if your home state was considering making it illegal to purchase, sell, breed, or keep a captive-bred sand boa, ball python, or Hog Island boa?  I think we can all agree these species pose much less of a threat to people of all ages than even a small dog.  Indeed, all boas and pythons....poof! Illegal. Just like that. No exceptions.

If you think it's "just New York now...it won't happen in my state," think again.  Similar legislation was shot down in Chicago not too long ago, and I think we can all agree that such misinformed legislation has the ability to spread with frightening efficiency.  Bottom line is, your state COULD BE NEXT.

Please follow the link at the top of the page to email Governor Pataki.  You can also call 518-474-8390 and mention "I'm calling in opposition to bill A02684."  It takes only 15 seconds.

I sincerely hope, as a well-respected breeder of boas and manufacturer of cages, that Jeff is involved in attempting to shoot this bill down.  New York is one of the most populated states in the country, and he stands to lose a lot of future business if this bill is signed into law.  In fact, we all do.

Thanks for reading.

[The_Boaphile]

I just sent out an email to everyone who's email address I have. That is about 4000 email addresses.

This email is to inform you of a bill in NY that if passed will have detrimental effects on reptile breeders, commercial supply businesses and hobbyists alike. This bill has passed the assembly and the senate within New York and is currently setting on the Governors desk awaiting his signature to become law. He may sign off on it this week or may wait several months to make his decision it is imperative that we act NOW! If this bill passes they way it is currently written, it will be an all out ban on boas, pythons, monitors, crocodilians and venomous species of reptiles. There is a clause that says the state may grant permission for a permit to keep and maintain any animals listed within this bill as pets only, if you owned them prior to this bill which will take effect January of 2005 if we don't stop it. In other words if you own any animals listed within this bill and apply for a permit to keep them, IF they grant you this permit you may never breed them, you are allowed!

to maintain them as pets only. I live outside of the state of NY and am trying to rally everyone outside and within I can but I need you to do the same. The governor and his office will put more priority on the concerns of their residents then they will on people such as myself. Perhaps you know someone in New York who is not aware of this threat, and your help is needed to contact them about this. I urge each and every one of you to please get as active as you can. Post fliers within pets stores, get your friends to write in, call your local representatives, and contact any kind of business within the state of NY that sells reptiles or supplies. These businesses have detailed mailing list, ask them to ad a flier next time their mailer goes out. Anything you can think of to spread the word. Also please tell everyone to keep their letters professional and polite we don't want to sound like a bunch of thugs. Below are three methods to contact the Governor and oppose this bill. If you have the time I urge you to use all three methods.



This law if passed could be adopted in other states. A couple years ago NYC passed a law that banned many species of animals (reptile, mammals etc.). Last year Chicago copied and tried to pass that very same law as well. They literally copied it; Chicago deleted references to NYC and replaced them with Chicago, in a couple of spots they forgot to remove the references to NYC. So this ordinance they were trying to pass in Chicago had references to both cities within it. For the time being we stopped them there but that's just an example of how one state or city does something and the rest follow.



These laws are pushed by some folks who, though well intentioned are not cognoscente of the freedom that they are taking away from honest law abiding citizens whose animals pose absolutely no risk to anyone. Others pushing these policies are animal rights whackos that seek to remove all animals from the hands of people period. This includes domesticated animals used for food and other animal products. Make no mistake this is a direct assault on the freedoms we as Americans enjoy that are being chipped away at those who ultimately want to see a different America. An America I for one am not looking forward to living in if these people continue to have their way.



Below are several links to contact Governor Pataki to voice your concern. Please do so with a non-combative argumentative tone. The most valuable messages to the Governor will be from New York citizens. When you write please include your name and zip code as the Governor's office will want to know this information.



Here's a link to the Bill



http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02684&sh=t





Here's a link to email your opposition to the Governor



http://161.11.3.75/



Snail Mail address:

Governor George E. Pataki

State Capitol

Albany, NY 12224

Use the below phone number, tell them you are calling in reference to bill A02684. You'll then be asked for you zip code, once given the person will log your vote into a computer.

518-474-8390



Thank you for doing your part!



Jeff Ronne

The Boaphile

http://www.theboaforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

Thank you to Bruce Lowder of the NY Reptile Expo put together much of this information and wrote almost entirely the first two paragraphs of this email.

[The_Boaphile]

I had been notified by a number of folks and encouraged by several others to contact those that I knew to let them know that they should act. Thanks to all those that contacted me and have participated. I had received several letters back including a nice one I am copying here with permission written by Gus Renfro from Texas. Gus is a fellow Boa fancier and in breeder of many types of locality specific Boa Constrictors. Here is Gus' letter:

"The Honorable George E. Pataki , Governor

State Capitol, Albany, New York

Dear Governor Pataki,

You are now making an important decision affecting many people in New York and beyond. According to the information I received a bill # A02684, outlawing most ownership and use of very many reptiles and other non-traditional pets is now under your consideration. I am strongly opposed to this legislation. Please allow me a small portion of your valuable time to explain my objections.

First, these types of laws are mostly unneeded and can be costly to implement. Why unneeded? New York and every state of the union as well as county and municipal entities all have long standing law and ordinance dealing with dangerous behavior and nuisance. These, if enforced, equally apply to persons abusing the privilege of keeping any type or kind of animal, including those singled out in the referenced bill. These laws are costly for two main reasons. To begin, who will police these regulations and how will knowledgeable and trained persons be found to equitably apply the law? In addition, according to industry estimates the keeping of reptiles and other non-traditional pets is a $3,000,000,000.00 (3 billion dollar) industry in the United States annually. How much of that is the State of New York wanting to sacrifice to satisfy a small, vocal minority of people who would like these types of laws passed and enforced?

Aside from the political and economic shock waves that will rebound from this law if enacted you should also consider that there are benefits to people and society from the keeping of non-traditional pets. The keeping of many reptiles and other non-traditional pets is as enriching to young people (of all ages) as the care of dogs, cats and the rest of the so-called normal pet menagerie, and demonstrably safer. Yes, safer. In the Dallas, Texas area a Pomeranian (dog, under 3 pounds) mauled and killed a small child. Where do laws such as this, even well intentioned ones, end? Further, reptile and other non-traditional pets foster learning of nature and natural systems and empathy for nature and wildlife.

We live in a time of political zealousness where many of our privileges are under attack, including the right to keep reptiles and other non-traditional pets. Opponents of these rights think in black and white terms and disallow any positive outcome from the Reptile hobby. In truth, all types of pets can cause problems or injury. There are dog, cat and bird rescue facilities in most every city and horses and other large animals are removed from poor or dangerous situations routinely. All this costing millions in public and private funds. Will you or some other Governor following the example of the great state of New York next be asked to outlaw dogs and cats? It would be refreshing to have some important and prominent figure such as the Governor of New York take a stand against the type expensive and unneeded witch-hunting that this bill represents.

If the exotic pet industry needs regulation government leaders and industry advocates should craft these rules together. Prohibition is not a valid form of regulation and ultimately makes law-breakers of average citizens.

Thank you,

Gus
A. Rentfro
34 Rentfro Blvd.
Brownsville, Texas 78521"

You can see Gus' web site at the following:

http://www.riobravoreptiles.com/

[The_Boaphile]

Here is a letter forwarded to my by Larry M. Bakman a fellow Boa keeper who has made a suggestion for an appropriate structure for a letter to be written to Governor Pataki:

"Dear Governor:

I am an attorney licensed to practice in the State of New York and the State of California. In addition to practicing criminal law before the United States District Court in both Los Angeles and New York I have been involved in herpetology for some 45 years. The assembly bill as drafted, precluding ownership of boa constrictors and pythons as a whole, is both arbitrary and irrational. There are many species and sub-specifies of boadie which do not grow to the proportions believed by the lay person. There are in fact many boas and pythons that grow to no more than two or three feet in length with little girth. To include in the bill all boidae without thought as to specific species is contra to what I believe is the legislative intent for such a ban. I am assuming that such a bill is being passed for public safety and protection concerns. While such intent is admirable, inclusion of general categories of reptiles without regard to specific species contained in such category hurts more people than those which the legislature seeks to protect. There are many, many people in this State and others who are breeders, collectors, and hobbyists, many of whom either make their living through this industry, and/or supplement their annual earnings through the sale and purchase of such reptiles. To preclude ownership throughout the state of all boas, and all pythons, without regard to differing sizes, or demeanor of such animals is not only ignorant but seemingly arbitrary and capricious. The legislation as proposed seems to serve the fears of the few who undoubtedly are neither educated in this area or prefer to remain ignorant due to either a biblical or inherent dislike of reptiles. I am hopeful that my thoughts herein will be considered by you prior to your decision for or against such legislation.

Very truly yours,

Larry M. Bakman"

Thank you Larry!

Jeff

[Darrin_Brasher]

if you live in NY be sure and call and use your zip code . if anyone knows folks in NY urge them to help us out herp lover or not .NY residents votes count the most in this battle . Large groups of individuals letting the Governor know they as well as family and friends will not vacation in NY if this passes or spend any money that will go to the states economy plays a crucial role as well . please relay these messages with professionalism and respect to properly put a respectable face on our hobby and business that it deserves.