Last year WE stopped Chicago, NOW we must stop NY State!!

[Dumerils.com]

Con one of the mods please post this under yours new section? Thanks

New York State is trying to push a bill through that will ban all boas, pythons, hots, crocs and certain monitors. This is very similar to the ordinance we stopped in Chicago last year. This Bill has passed the assembly and the senate, its currently waiting on the governor to sign off on it and make it a law. If passed January of 05 NY State can kiss the bulk of their reptiles good bye. Yes this includes your hypos, motleys, sunglows etc. There is a clause that THEY MAY grant NY residents a permit to keep any animals acquired prior to this law being enacted. However any permits THEY MAY POSSIBLLY grant are for pets only! You are not allowed to breed. But do you really want your $5000 sunglow boa you just invested in to be a pet only? How about your spider ball python? If not we need to get active and stop this!!! I urge anyone and everyone whether you’re a NY resident or not to voice their opinion and denounce this bill. I personally ship a lot of stuff into NY, I know I am not the only one, if your just starting out in business you need to think about this because if this passes this is an entire state you’ll loose the opportunity to ever do business in. I also urge everyone to spread the word to anyone and everyone they can. Contact show promoters, breeders, supply dealers hobbyists etc. Pressure these people, they have huge mailing lists they can spread the word faster then any of us. Make them realize they need to get involved soon enough their may be no one left for them to sell their cages, light bulbs etc to. Let NY know that we will not stand back and allow them to take away our rights as responsible herpers with their blanket laws. NY is one of those states the other states look up to when it comes to legislation so you can bet money on the fact if this bill passes it WILL spread like wild fire. The ordinance we fought in Chicago last year was verbatim the one passed in NYC a couple years back. So if your sitting their thinking I don’t live their so I don’t have to worry about it. There’s your proof you better worry about it.

Below is the link to the internet copy of the bill awaiting the gov’s signature.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A02684&sh=t
The below link is to a page where you can email the Gov.
http://161.11.3.75/

To Write To The Governor:
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Below is a phone number where you can all and let them know your opposition to this bill. Tell them your calling in reference to bill A02684. You’ll then be asked if your for or opposed and asked for your zip code. I called today and gave them my zip and they logged my opposition to the bill even though I am a IL resident. If your moving there give them the zip your moving to.
518-474-8390

Many of you may remember some of you may not. Last year an ordinance came through Chicago as a knee jerk reaction to monkey pox that is pretty much the same thing as the current Bill in NY waiting for the Governor to sign off. This ordinance in Chicago we stopped last year, I was told by more then one person that we would never be able to stop it. Apparently the Aldermen who sponsored the bill is a powerful person within Chicago. I was told he has been known to push ridiculous things through and make them law just out of spit for people he doesn’t like. The people I spoken to who told me we would never be able to stop him or that city wide ban, deal with him on a regular basis and have done so for years. Very best they hoped that with all our support we could get the Aldermen to at least lisen and make the ordinance somewhat sensible. Well our support did the unthinkable and we stopped him from pushing the Chicago ban on reptiles through. When I spoke to these people they made a point that they didn’t think we could win, NOT because they didn’t believe in us, they didn’t think we could win because of the people and their tactics that we were up against. They were wrong, They were in awe, all they could say was thank you and how much they appreciated what WE had done. I know they spoke for the tens of thousands of reptile people within Chicago. My point of all this is two things, number one, we can do it, we don’t have to just roll over and take it from these people. There is enough of us and when we unit we CAN change things. #2 I was told last year that these politicians wouldn’t care what anyone who didn’t live within their district thought. Well they did, whether they cared because some of them realize you or I may become a voting resident in their district, prior to the next election or because of the over whelming response we gave them, I don’t care, all I know is WE got the job done and we need to do it again for NY State.

We need to stand up and let the government know that they have over stepped their bounds. Were Americans and we have rights as private responsible citizens and I for one am tired of seeing them stripped away!

	Hypomelanistic Hypomelanistic - a genetic reduction in the dark pigment Melanin.

[Dumerils.com]

Heres a list of people, Ive contacted who are lending a hand by contacting their costumers and letting them know they need to get involved. I have permission from each person on here to post their names.
Bob Clark
Chad Martin Big Cheese Rodents
Exotic Jungle, Jay
Mark Lucas
Larry Kenton Maryland reptile farm, Harve De Grace reptile show
Casey Hulse Nature Spirits
Ben Seigel
The Lizard King Mickey Hinkle
Chicago Herp society
Lee Watson Streamwood Reptile show
There’s a bunch more people that I have spoken to, big name breeders and businesses alike that are not on the list, that as well are contacting their costumers and anyone they can think of to oppose this bill. I will update this list in time as it is growing by the hour. Many of these people are not even from NY, so if you see these guys or talk to them let them know you appreciate them going out of their way and standing up for all of us.
Please if you are placing an order today for something tell them what’s up. The company you are placing the order with stands to loose a whole state of potential costumers. Contact your favorite supply company tell them to get involved, post this on your fav forums, contact other breeders ask them to touch base with their costumers. It doesn’t matter if your from NY or not it helps, I live in IL. To those who have already taken action THANK YOU!!!!

[Ed_r]

NY people TIME TO ASSEMBLE!!!! Contact your herp Society NOW!!! Chicago hasn't quite beaten it yet, But we got it to be looked at rationally, before they went ahead with a straight ban.

Come together and speak as one. One loud voice carries more wieght than many whispers. They key is hitting the points intelligently. I can't stress enough how important it is not so sit back and say it isn't going to happen.

Chicago put it off. We are a prime example of what can be done.

[Dumerils.com]

I meant to say "news section" up above not new section, on the front page

[Majexto]

So this is already to the point all that has to happen is the governor has to sign it and its done? Thats bad. I'm glad I dont live in NY. PA is too concerned about money than to care about reptiles. Definetly my area, we have the supposed highest tax's in the US. Anyway, I hate writing letters. Have an email at all I could write to?

[AnAcOnDaMaN]

If this law is passed in New York State, then all other states will be affected as well. if you are not a NY state resident please we will need your support.

[Bchildress]

well i definately know that nicole and her girls will be all for the opposition.. we'll definately spread the word around at the FIRE expo in orlando next weekend and hopefully stop the new law.
It's one thing to have a permit to own animals but there are so many ppl in ny that own these animals for educational use in schools and stuff...
I am a new yorker too so i'm all for supporting our fellow herp lovers there.

Lets hope Gov Pataki likes snakes too.

[lethargiic]

Originally Posted by Bchildress

well i definately know that nicole and her girls will be all for the opposition.. we'll definately spread the word around at the FIRE expo in orlando next weekend and hopefully stop the new law.
It's one thing to have a permit to own animals but there are so many ppl in ny that own these animals for educational use in schools and stuff...
I am a new yorker too so i'm all for supporting our fellow herp lovers there.

Lets hope Gov Pataki likes snakes too.

augh! i did it again n posted under brad's username...lol
that was my post...

[AnAcOnDaMaN]

Other states model their legislation according according to NY's. I mean I can see the reason for them banning large snakes from the boidae family, but trying to ban harmless ball pythons, children's pythons, and others, even including common boa constrictors is uncalled for. These laws are written by people who no nothing about these animals, except the fact that they think they are a nuisance to society. The main point I was driving out is that If you are not a NY state resident please give your support. If this bill is passed you will be affected sometime in the future.

[Majexto]

Wow I just read the entire bill. It has no proof to support what it says. "Kids have been bitten by monkeys" come on now! This is ridicoulous.

[CC]

I can't believe that these idiots want to ban these animals. I just do not get what the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& people are thinking sometimes. Kids being mauled by tigers across the country.....WHAT??? I think I would have heard of that.

[NicoleRussell]

I'll be at the expo on the 18th so I'll speak to the LI and NY herp socirty people then