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Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by Phobos on January 20, 2005
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Watch...by the end of 2005 most states will have banned "Dangerous Animals"
If we can't clean up our act, they will do it for us.....
Al
HB 1151 has been granted a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 1:30pm in House Hearing Room B in the John L. O’Brien Building. Please try to attend the hearing.
Read the bill here: http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinfo1/dspBillSummary.cfm?billnumber=1151&year=2005
The Senate bill has been granted a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, January 27, 2005 at 10:00am in Senate Hearing Room 1 in the J. A. Cherberg Building. Please try to attend the hearing.
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by ALA_herp31 on January 20, 2005
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Hey Al, thanks for bringing this possible ban to the front again. I hope we can keep these all out bans on keeping from moving forward. I know that we as privet keepers don’t have much of a chance at stopping this, considering they are going to do it anyway, but if we will all join together and fight like we want it, we mite, and that is mite be able to stop it. I pray we can, because think of the knowledge that would be lost because of it. In a lot of ways, if it were not for the privet keepers, what we know about these Venomous beauties would not be known today huu? Just my opinion, I hope we can stop this nonsense from taking away what we value so dearly...........Be safe ya’ll, happy herping and lets hope on happy keeping, Wally
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by elapidking81 on January 21, 2005
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I know and understand that this is going to hurt us all that keep hots but I tell you I almost can see were there coming from in this, people are getting bit snakes are getting loose, so while I dont agree with the ban I do with Al we need to clean up our acts.
shane kissinger
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by ALA_herp31 on January 21, 2005
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Hey Shane, I see the truth of it myself, it dose make us good keepers look like fools. I just hope that we can all join together in some way to stop these all out bans, but it dose look unlikely that we will ever stop it. Lets see what we can do tho, I say we fight this nonsense like no tomorrow. I would love to see our community come together and make this ban idea a thing of the past, I know it’s a long shot tho. Be safe ya’ll, and please don’t let this ban come to pass without a fight. Its all but to late for us in AL, Venomous keepers in this State can only keep native Hots, and we can only keep what we catch, but all of you that live in States that still allow keeping can still fight this nonsense..........Happy herping, Wally
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by tj on January 22, 2005
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We can police ourselves all we want, and that is a good thing. My question is, when are the vendors and dealers going to be policed? At any given time some piece of garbage on the ks classified's or at a Hamburg show is selling to someone that SHOULDN'T have these animals ( I've seen dealers on NUMEROUS occasions selling to YOUNG kids who had VERY LITTLE knowledge of the snakes they were buying ). And NUMEROUS times, I've heard the dealers say the same thing, well I'll give you a good deal on this ot that. When is this garbage going to stop? If dealers of venomous reptiles can't be responsible adults about selling these animals, how can we think the government should continue to allow us to keep them? It's a priveledge, NOT A RIGHT. Somehow we need to start policing at the starting point.
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by Phobos on January 22, 2005
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Tj:
I agree and have witnessed such activities. They are putting themselves out of business.
Al
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by Phobos on January 22, 2005
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Ok folks I stepped up to the plate and took a swing, now it's your turn. I sent this email to every sponsor of this Bill, use the link I provided in my first post.
Al
Dear Sir:
Although I don't live in your wonderful State that I am luck to visit periodically I would like to voice my thoughts on Bill 1151, specifically the section regarding Venomous Snakes.
I feel an all out ban would not be the best course of action, for the people that have them would keep them anyway and just drive the whole issue underground. Snake keepers feel like gun owners in a lot of ways, just because it will be illegal to have them does not mean they will abide by the law. Many laws across this great country are on the books but just not very enforceable, this one will have the same fate I feel. People will be willing to "Ride out" a snakebite and risk their own death to retain their collection.
Please take a look at the current regulation on the books in Florida, where regulation is the key to safe and responsable keeping of Venomous Snakes that benefits all that live in that great State.
I can also send you information of a Bill currently in the House in North Dakota that employs strict standards to keeping these animals. I feel regulation is more enforceable and certainly preferable to a ban which will just drive the issue underground and make no one safer.
Respectfully,
Al Coritz
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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by ALA_herp31 on January 22, 2005
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Hey Al, I just joined you in sending them a very respectable E-mail, in hopes that maybe it will stop the tide of laws to ban our hobby. To all the members of this site, I respectfully join Mr. Al Coritz on this subject. Please, and I do mean please, all of you that enjoy the ability to keep the Animals we love so dearly, join us in this E-mail protest to stop this ban. Again, thank you very much Al, for bringing this passable ban on “so called” Dangerous Animals to the forefront for every one to see......... Thank you, be safe ya’ll, happy herping, Wally
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RE: Washington State to Ban Dangerous Animals
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Anonymous post on January 25, 2005
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Here what I wrote to the reps on the matter, the names have been changed so I can be anonymous:
25 January 2005
Dear Sir;
I am writing you in regards the House Bill 1151 you are drafting that will ban venomous snakes within the great state of Washington. My name is Blank Blankley and I am currently an undergraduate at Blank State University and a venomous snake breeder, researcher, educator, as well as a professional field herpetologist. I also am an ex-professional zookeeper at the (Name) Zoo where I worked with many venomous snakes. From my experiences over the past 16 years of working with these animals in both the private sector (of which you intend to ban) and the professional sector I must plead with you to make an intelligent an logical compromise. Please do not put a complete ban on owning venomous snakes. Regulation is by far a better solution that does not tread on freedom but ensures the safety of all you constituents.
There are several topics that I must discuss in order for me to feel confident that you will understand the issue you are taking upon yourself. First, I must agree that green mambas and cobras should not be kept in apartments (high volume of people in a relatively small area). Also, I will not deny the possibility of an escaped animal and the potential danger that such an event would portray. However, an escape is an issue that can be simple overcome with proper caging. When I say "proper" caging I do not mean a simple ten gallon aquarium with a screen top that can be purchased at Wal-Mart. I am proposing sound caging that zoos and other professional institutions use. Not to mention that most handy carpenters can construct a quality cage that is virtually escape proof.
This being said, I would also like to bring your attention to the fact that according to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA on average 18 people a year are killed by dog attacks. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers in 2003 only 2 people were killed by venomous snakes. A special note should be made that both victims were not innocent 3rd parties but the owner of their animal. I don't know the number of people killed from bungee jumping or skydiving but I would have to believe it was higher than two.
Please keep in mind that just because the person is not using the animal for "legitimate purposes" does not have anything to do with their capabilities, or competency. For example, while I was employed at the Name Zoo as a professional reptile keeper I was in charge of several highly dangerous venomous snakes, of which most people would agree is a "legitimate purpose." At the same time I was also keeping venomous snakes in my home for personal enjoyment. Which, if your initial proposal goes through, would be illegal. I ask you, was I any less competent at home? Did I forget my training and proper handling techniques on my drive home everyday?
My point is simple, if car accidents due to speeding, were the issue at hand, it would not be practical to deny ownership of all sports cars (because they go fast) except for "legitimate purposes." This of course would infringe on the rights of the citizens who enjoy sports cars responsibly. It is not your place to decide what is or is not a "legitimate purpose." However, I must agree that something needs to be done. Such as, with the sports car example, harsher penalties for speeders and an extra license that requires more specific safety tests would be logical and fair.
The same concept can apply to venomous snakes in private homes. Simply, make it illegal to keep venomous snakes without a permit of license. Then set up a permitting system that ensures the keepers are responsible. Several states have already set up permitting systems (FL, NC, OK, ND) that still give responsible keepers freedom but also ensures the safety of the other citizens.
Please think this over and consult more that just the director of ONE zoo. Please consult professionals in other areas as well. Most zoological institutions are a part of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. This governing body REQUIRES all members to support the ban of private exotic animals. Why? Because of the liability if they support such a hobby. Also there is a large bias against private keepers within zoological institutions. Which is almost ridiculous considering that the private sector has a far better success rate with captive breeding programs than zoos do. In fact most of the animals that zoos have today including highly dangerous bushmasters were first bred and given to zoos by responsible private breeders. But Please contact more than just one "professional." I have had experience at both ends of the spectrum and am very willing to help you set up a FAIR law that will still ensure safety but ensure freedom as well.
Please keep in mind that there has NEVER been an innocent 3rd party bitten by a pet venomous snake in the history of the United States (not even one). And please believe me there are thousands of pet venomous snakes. And of course there are bites to keepers and they sometimes die. But not every bungee jump ends happily nor does every sky dive. So you need to ban those hobbies as well. And please don't forget about dog bites and those 18 killed by dogs every year. So ban dogs also. Do I even need to mention horses? How about guns?
I apologize for the long email but this information must be said. If you can read this and still completely ban venomous snakes except for those "legitimate purposes" then the bill was passed on an arbitrary bias. Again, my position is for safe and responsible keeping of venomous snakes and not for the compete denial of freedom. Thank you for your time. If you are interested in my help to set up a quality permit and regulation system please feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Respectfully,
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