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Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond this
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by go_topless on January 30, 2012
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We will be in Richmond this Thursday (February 2, 2012) to Lobby against SB 477. We need more than just 12 people to show up this time, we really need to make an impression. Many of us sacrificed time from work, family, and other responsibilities last week to be in Richmond for the exotic animal keepers meeting as well as to lobby last week. We need more people to show up this Thursday to help with the fight. Remember the HSUS and other animal extremists are lobbying in great numbers showing their support of these Bills. We need to show Virginia's legislators our true numbers.
Anyone from Richmond know of good parking near the General Assembly Building?
We will be meeting at:
Discovery UMC
13000 Gayton Road
Richmond, Va. 23233
Please be there before 8am, as we'll be departing for the General Assembly Building at 8:00.
For more infomation please contact:
Jared L Watts
rescueandtransportwri@yahoo.com
or
David Means
540-829-9846
dvmeans@hotmail.com
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RE: Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond
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by go_topless on January 31, 2012
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To all exotic animal keepers in Virginia:
This post may come across as a bit harsh, but it needs to be said. There are too many people in this community riding the coat tails of those working hard to fight the two bills in the Virginia House and Senate. We have people from Maryland and North Carolina driving to Virginia to support us in the fight for our rights to own these animals, yet we can only get a handful of Virginias’ to lobby against these bills.
I’ve been unemployed of eight months and had to decline the only chance I’d had for employment since I lost my job in order to fight these bills. I’ve spent money I don’t have on paper, envelopes, ink, fuel, and copies to get the letters sent to me in the hands of each delegate and senator on the committees hearing these bills. I do this because I’m passionate about working with the animals I keep and I don’t want to lose the right to work with them. I understand all to well the sacrifices that need to be made in order to prevail in this fight. We have people driving 4 ½ hours one way to lobby, people closing their business and turning away costumers and clients in order to be able to come to Richmond to fight this legislation. The time to fight is now, not after the bill become law.
I want to thank everyone who has made sacrifices to help in the fight for our rights to own the animals we keep and love. I look forward to seeing you all again this Thursday
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RE: Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond
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by go_topless on January 31, 2012
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Letter from Jared Watts
I would like to thank everyone for the push we have had here in the Virginia Reptile and Exotics Community in the last 2 weeks. Our response can show our legislators that prohibitions that have and still fail in neighboring states have no base here in the commonwealth. I, along with various others from the reptile and exotics community have been working diligently in gaining access to, and conversing with our delegates in Richmond. Currently both Bills 477 and 1242 remain on shakey ground (I dont trust politicians, so nothings dead until its buried) and this Thursday 2/2/2012 we will need massive representation from my fellow Virginians at the General Assembly building meeting and speaking to our various represenative’s while countering the PAID OPPOSITION the HSUS and PETA like organizations had in place blanketing the building with their propoganda against our community. I can't stress this enough, these delegates appreciate faces alot more than letters and works. They seem responsive to the private communities imput. WE ARE A COMMONWEALTH, IF WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THESE LAWS WILL NEVER GET IN THE DOOR HERE> I Urge everyone who has every and currently owned a reptile to show up one Thursday at the same church in Richmond at:
UMC
13000 Gayton Rd
Richmond,VA 23233
BETWEEN 7-8 AM after 8 We will already all be heading to the capitol feel free to meet us there.
I urge Everyone to Carpool. There are groups Meeting at my house (which is in Smithfield on Rt 10) as Well as Eric Crabtrees home in Norfolk VA. If YOU NEED A RIDE, or would like to carpool PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL ME DIRECTLY and we will make sure you get to Richmond with us. Carpooling is a must as parking is very limited and you may need money for tolls and parking per day is 15-20$ per vehicle. BRING COMFORTABLE SHOES! And please DRESS APPROPRIATELY. If I can get my Grizzly adams face into a suit then I know we all can show up looking to impress our legislators with our poise, knowledge, and unity as private facility owners and keepers here in Virginia. We currently have a minimum of 4 Meetings Currently set up between senators and legal aids and the first one begins at 9:00am. I MUST AGAIN STATE, THESE BILLS HAVE NOT DIED< AND THEY CAN STILL VERY MUCH EFFECT OUR RIGHTS THIS YEAR> WE MUST STAY DILIGENT AND NOT DROP OUR GUARD> THEY WILL BE BACK. BUT LETS HIT THEM SO HARD THIS THURSDAY THAT THE IMPRESSION RESOUNDS IN THERE MINDS EVERYTIME SOMEONE MENTIONS EXOTIC ANIMAL LEGISLATION IN VIRGINIA!
I EXPECT the community to be strong this week, and show up for something we all have a stake in. Dont let National organizations like the HSUS destroy our rights here at home!
Jared Watts
VIIPER Board Elect
WRI Chair
VDGIF Permit Holder
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RE: Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond
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by CanadianSnakeMan on February 3, 2012
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Best of luck to you!
We're fighting a similar battle up here in Canada. I wish you all the best.
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RE: Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond
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by KaouthiaKeeper on March 20, 2012
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Hey Canadian snake man I recently seen a blog on kingsnake entitled, "Canada town relaxes restrictions on pets once deemed 'dangerous' By Cindy Steinle
Thu, January 12 2012 at 13:30". I was wondering if the paper you wrote may have influenced this decision.
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RE: Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond
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by CanadianSnakeMan on March 20, 2012
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No, that was in Hamilton... completely independent of my lobbying. It seems that some other people in this province are coming to their senses! Unfortunately for me, I live in a very rural area where there are far fewer open minds.
On the up side though, the town council voted to have an open meeting on the topic so local people will be able to have their say. I don't expect anyone except the people who want reptiles to be allowed to show up.
The (ignorant) bylaw officer wrote a hilarious report up for the council that is good for nothing more than a laugh. It won't be hard to tear some very big holes in his line of reasoning so I'm looking forward to the meeting.
I will keep the forum updated as this progresses.
Also, I did a lengthy radio interview for 'The Reptile Apartment' podcast recently. I'm not sure when it's airing but details can be found here:
http://reptileapartment.com/podcast/
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RE: Join Us for Round Two of Lobbying in Richmond
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by KaouthiaKeeper on March 21, 2012
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I am deffinetly going to listen to that as soon as I get home. I recently listened to another debate with the head of US ARK and the head of the humane society. The guy from US ARK was letting this humane society guy walk all over him I couldn't believe it. However it at least seems like the private keepers are waking up just in the the maybe stop the onslaught of legislation. I have been keeping venous reptiles and many constrictors for about 12 years now and I have uncles and cousins who have been keeping them for upwards of 35 years. It's a great hobby, brings the family together, and I see absolutely no reason for these regulations on reptiles. My friends little brother likes to skate board and just had his head cracked open while sliding down a pole. I also just seen on the news a guy died while flying a hot air balloon when he got caught in a storm. What are they going to outlaw biking, jet skiing, Sky diving, roller blading, dirt bikes, scuba diving, or anything that's fun that has the potential to injur someone. I feel way more comfortable handaling my cobra then I do jumping out of a plane. Hopefully people stick together I don't think many keeper care enough to go put there and lobby.
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