things afoot in the USA

[gaz]

NO on HR669 / Grassroots Organizing 101
OK everyone just take a deep breath.... we need to look at this problem objectively. This is not the time to panic, it is not the time to get emotional, but it is time for thoughtful, deliberate action!
If you have been listening to USARK for very long, you knew that this was coming. Many were of the opinion that HR6311 was dead. USARK warned that although it was dead for 2008 it would be reintroduced in 2009. Now we have the newest version, HR669. Now the question becomes: What is the Herp Community going to do about it?
Let's look at the history of HR669:
1. It began in 2007 with a petition from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to USFWS to add Boa, Python and Eunectes to the 'Injurious Wildlife List' of the Lacey Act. That was followed by a Notice of Inquiry published in the Federal Register calling for public comment in early 2008. This constituted the first step in a 'potential' Rule Change to the Lacey Act. This process is under way and can take up to 4 years to effect an actual Rule Change. It is not over. This is still being processed by USFWS.
2. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Defenders of Wildlife, unhappy with the pace of progress with a 'potential' Rule Change to the Lacey Act, convince a group of US House members to introduce a bill based on a report written by Defenders of Wildlife called Broken Screens. In July of 2008 HR6311 is introduced into the US House of Representatives. Marshall Myers of PIJAC is present and makes an eloquent point by point rebuttal of the Bill. Because of so many other pressing issues HR6311 dies in the Natural Resources Committee it was assigned to.
3. USARK warns that even though HR6311 is dead for the legislative session it will be revived in 2009. USARK initiates a petition against HR6311 October 2008.
4. January 2009 HR6311 is reintroduced as HR669. A group of 10 House members co-sponsor HR669 and it is assigned to the House Natural Resources Committee.
Facts about HR669:
1. If passed HR669 would end the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of many reptiles and amphibians including boa, python & eunectes. The following is an excerpt from the Bill.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES.
(a) Prohibitions- Except as provided in this section or in section 7, it is unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to--
(1) import into or export from the United States any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;
(2) transport between any State by any means whatsoever any nonnative wildlife species that is not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4;
(3) violate any term or condition of a permit issued under section 7;
(4) possess (except as provided in section 3(f)), sell or offer to sell, purchase or offer to purchase, or barter for or offer to barter for, any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1);
(5) release into the wild any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1); or
(6) breed any nonnative wildlife species that is prohibited from being imported under paragraph (1), or provide any such species to another person for breeding purposes.
2. There are 10 sponsors for this Bill. That means this is serious. They want to pass this Bill. Some of sponsors have strong relationships to the HSUS.
3. HR669 has very little basis in scientific fact. There is no evidence to suggest that banning any of these animals will have any positive effects on the economy, environment, or human or animal species health.
4. What is certain is that passing HR669 would add to our country's economic decline and devastate American families and small businesses.


got this from a US tree boa site
not just us under threat then
regards gaz

[sparkle]

sorry I dont do well with lots of codes and lists,.. can you explain this in a simple easy to understand sentance for us idiots.. not techno babble.. thanks...

ahh edited to add is it this bit thats important..

1. If passed HR669 would end the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of many reptiles and amphibians including boa, python & eunectes. The following is an excerpt from the Bill.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES

[Akua_Ko_Nalu]

This has been circulating in the US for a few weeks now.

[Dave-Flames]

it'll never get passed.. nothing to worry about..

[Akua_Ko_Nalu]

Originally Posted by Dave-Flames

it'll never get passed.. nothing to worry about..

That's a hopeful mentality!

So long as all the US community get together and fight the bill, then they should be fine, if they sit back and do nothing thinking that, then it will come in.

[oakelm]

But have you noticed that it states not included in the list of approved species issued under section 4
If it were to go ahead which I very much doubt I bet that within a year a lot more species would be on this list.
Also it says only non native species cant be imported or exported so corn snakes wouldnt be affected as they are native. It sounds a lot like australia as they have a load of rules in place for non native species because of the potential damage to local wildlife they could do as they dont have the freezing cold weather like us to kill of the tropical species if they were to get out.

[HABU]

Originally Posted by sparkle

sorry I dont do well with lots of codes and lists,.. can you explain this in a simple easy to understand sentance for us idiots.. not techno babble.. thanks...

ahh edited to add is it this bit thats important..

1. If passed HR669 would end the import, purchase, sale, trade and breeding of many reptiles and amphibians including boa, python & eunectes. The following is an excerpt from the Bill.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES

just a law that the lawmakers are trying to pass. it's a serious thing but i don't believe it will pass both the senate and house of representatives. it might but it could also die in the house. if it did make it through both houses of congress it may very well be modified... re-written with things in it removed or things inserted... even then obama could veto it without raising any big stink.... and if it was vetoed by the president i highly doubt that congress could possibly over-ride the veto....

washington has bigger fish to fry than to fret over some snakes at this time... but you never know...

what is known is that the people most affected by this possible law are all writing their congressmen and senators... it is an industry after all and since the u.s. is chock full of all of these animals already realisticly what positive effects would it have? most sensible folks will only see negative results if this bill makes it all the way undiluted, to the president's desk...

... it may pass but also be effectively gutted and bearing little resemblence to the original bill.... i have no idea what may happen. what i do know is that people make their living with herps and money is spread around.... i was a pijac member and i know they know their stuff... every pet shop and breeder or importer or herp product manufacturer and distributors will all be lined up squarely against the bill armed with a bushel basket of numbers and impact studies.... the bill died before... it seems to me to be even more likely to die again... given these hard times we are experiencing now. the humane society has a little clout but the other guys, the defenders of wildlife are known to be wackos.

i think that the bill will die... who knows? obama might like snakes and stuff!.... maybe i should give him a good talking to!

one last thing, who will pay for the enforcement and prosecution of thises laws?.... under budgeted, over stretched agencies? the bill will die.

anyway, here's a link about the whole thing....

Proposed Python Ban (S373)

[ratboy]

Originally Posted by HABU

every pet shop and breeder or importer or herp product manufacturer and distributors will all be lined up squarely against the bill armed with a bushel basket of numbers and impact studies....

Different than here then.

We just stick our head in the sand and say "It will never happen" through our bottoms.