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Speak Out: Permitting System

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Anonymous on 2004-07-26
I think that a nationwide permit system would make complete sense. I live in Missouri and the laws here are some of the most harsh in the country. Why, I have no clue. I would think that California or AZ would have some harsh laws. Nope!

Jake98 on 2004-07-20
WELL, I LIVE IN UPPER EAST TENN, AND I DO KEEP AND HAVE RATTLESNAKES AND COPPERHEADS. TENNESSEE DOES HAVE SOME MESSED UP LAWS REGARDING THE VENOM LAWS OF SNAKES. A PERMIT IN TENN IS HARDLY EVER PERMITTED TO A PRIVATE KEEPER, AND IF IT IS, IT COMES WITH A VERY NICE PRICE. HELL, ITS EVEN ILLEGAL TO KEEP A PET TURTLE IN TENNESSEE, BUT THE LOCAL PET STORES DO SELL THE FOODS FOR MOST TURTLES. ANYWAYS, I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP ANY HOT I WISH TO PURCHASE...HELPS TO HAVE FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES........

sceniccityreptiles on 2004-06-29
You think my statement is incorrect? Walter Cook, head law enforcement officer for Tennessee Wildlife has been quoted as saying, “you will get a permit to sell crack in TN before you will get a permit to keep venomous snakes.” To this date, not one single permit has been issued to a private keeper in TN since the law was enacted in 1991. I think my statement has merit. I ask you to present evidence to the contrary?

Zanewaldo on 2004-06-29
No. I think the States right should supercede anything the Fed. might deem as being under it's authority. Besides, don't they have their hands full with conducting war? If they attempt to be in charge of TOO many things, we might NEVER get our troops out of Iraq!

Anonymous on 2004-06-29
"On the right side of the street, the residents can not keep any type of venomous reptiles, regardless of their qualifications."


For starters the begining statement is not correct. TN does permit people for venomous and for crocodilians. The problem with TN is the requirements for those permits(antivenine kept for each species, $1,000.00 bucks a year for the permit, and passing inspection from quite possibly the most stubborn individual in wildlife law enforcement), and they do not govern helodermas at all, meaning anyone in TN can legally keep gilas and beadeds because no permit is required for those species.

paulw on 2004-06-27
I have to oppose any federal licensing system; the federal government has no legal authority over who can keep snakes. They might be able to control the interstate sale of herps, but that's about it. They have no legal authority over weather or not I go and catch a rattler to keep. It's not even a political question, it's a legal one. There's no constituitional grounds here, and even the broadest reading of the elastic clause wouldn't include this. The feds simply have no jurisdiction.

agkistrodude on 2004-06-26
Hey Klauberi,your absolutely right,a system like the one in Fla might work well. But the permit system in Fla is STATE, not federal. HUGE differance.Marty

klauberi on 2004-06-24
I believe a permit system like the one in Fl. could work in other states, but what about all the undocumented hours, or years that hot keepers have under their belts now. A grandfather clause could be enacted into the system if the hot keeper could prove him/her self. Also,a test could be given to prove experience.

Anonymous on 2004-06-14
The permit system will be the only way to own a hot or dangerous exotic reptile.

since some of the dealers are out of control you will all pay

quit whining its almost out of the public hands.

your hobby must be policed!

sceniccityreptiles on 2004-06-05
captiveherps, you are way off base man. If FL did not have the permitting system they have, then Hillsboro County would have last all rights to keep after the high profile Mamba bite last year. They legislation passed, but the state stepped in and over turned it, defending the rights of the FL permit holders. A good permit system is just as hard to get off the books as a bad one. In states like FL where there is a strong permitting system, rights are protected. In states like SC and VA where there are no permits, the keeper’s rights can be completely removed with very little effort. Case in point, AL. They had no permitting system in place and in 2000 they last their rights in the blink of an eye. I think we all need to push for a solid and reasonable permitting system in all states. In my opinion a state should govern the laws concerning all animals indigenous to the state, however, I think a federal permit system should be enacted concerning exotic venomous snakes. (Side bar, I got that FL example from a keeper in FL and I did not see it officially in print, I have presented it just as it was presented to me, so if it’s not 100% accurate that is why)

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