Attention: Georgia Reptile Keepers!!!

[jbd123]

Please watch this video on the Georgia Bill SB303 and it's impacts on our community.
YouTube - STOP SB303- Georgia to ban private ownership of Large constrictors!
Even if you are not from Georgia, watch this video and be warned: there may be possible state legislation in YOUR state!

[jbd123]

Wow....seriously no responses from our GA keepers here?

*BUMP*

[Hypoboa1234]

so sad.........

[jbd123]

It is pretty scary. When you read the bill itself it doesn't sound so bad...but when you find out what it takes to even qualify for the wild animal permit then you understand why we really need to fight this!

[jberry03]

You gotta be kidding me!!! Im in GA, and am realy getting tired of all of these bills that have cropped up over the last year-2 years. This is the 1st time I have seen or even heard of this. It doesnt shock me that you havent goten any response from keepers in Georgia because we as a comunity seem to be spread far and wide, and very few of us know of each other. What a shame.

[morti]

Y'all need to get it together down there.

Talk to BWSmith... because if this passes, I am going to make fun of y'all for condemning us when the venomous snake thing passed up here in Kentucky.

[mongoose5971]

Can someone give me a recap, don't have speakers.

[jblakehunter]

WOW, i'm in the wildlife/dept of natural resources industry and have never heard of this until now...

[ChadRamsey]

Yeah i have been watching this. sad really. We all need to send our letters. Attempt to meet with our reps. Not only are we fighting on a national level we have a State level fight on our hands. And unfortunatley, i can see where our state will be able to get together and pass this Bill a whole lot faster than at the national level.

Keep up the good fight

[jbd123]

Originally Posted by mongoose5971

Can someone give me a recap, don't have speakers.

Here's what basically is going to happen:

The bill looks like it's just a regulation bill, but the kicker is that you have to have a wild animal permit.

To get the wild animal permit, you have to follow certain rules...the one rule that is troubling is this...

"animal must be kept away from a residence".

In other words, if you have a PET snake that is listed on this bill, you can no longer have it as a pet. You must be a registered business/zoo/educational facility, etc.

So anyone who has these snakes AS A PET in the State of Georgia, you better do something about it.

Visit Untitled Documentfor more detailed info. I know the website doesn't look all that great but I built it in 30 minutes.

Other things to consider: the bill is $236.00 a year per collection and your animal must be microchipped.

$236 isn't so bad if it's a one time fee...but per year, that is a little excessive. Then again, the permit is not designed for individuals.

I do however agree with the microchip thing, but what I do not like is the fact that the government can come in your house and inspect whenever they like. Personally, I see it as an invasion of privacy.

[morti]

Originally Posted by jbd123

Here's what basically is going to happen:
The bill looks like it's just a regulation bill, but the kicker is that you have to have a wild animal permit.
To get the wild animal permit, you have to follow certain rules...the one rule that is troubling is this...
"animal must be kept away from a residence".
In other words, if you have a PET snake that is listed on this bill, you can no longer have it as a pet. You must be a registered business/zoo/educational facility, etc.
So anyone who has these snakes AS A PET in the State of Georgia, you better do something about it.
Visit Untitled Documentfor more detailed info. I know the website doesn't look all that great but I built it in 30 minutes.
Other things to consider: the bill is $236.00 a year per collection and your animal must be microchipped.
$236 isn't so bad if it's a one time fee...but per year, that is a little excessive. Then again, the permit is not designed for individuals.
I do however agree with the microchip thing, but what I do not like is the fact that the government can come in your house and inspect whenever they like. Personally, I see it as an invasion of privacy.

The good thing about state level politics is, you are more likely to be able to get a sit-down with the decision makers, and if you talk sense at them, they are more likely to listen.

For example: I presented my views to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the native snake regulations that they were putting in place. They were absolutely going to enact that law, but I got it at least changed a little.

[jbd123]

Originally Posted by morti

The good thing about state level politics is, you are more likely to be able to get a sit-down with the decision makers, and if you talk sense at them, they are more likely to listen.
For example: I presented my views to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the native snake regulations that they were putting in place. They were absolutely going to enact that law, but I got it at least changed a little.

Morti, that is great to know, and a little relieving to know.

I am getting together with a large group of folks this weekend at the Repticon Altanta show for our first official GRK (Georgia Reptile Keepers) meeting. We may go as a group and talk to someone personally or have our "ring leaders" (who are probably way better at public speaking than I) go.

By the way, I have sent a PM to BWSmith...hope to hear from him soon. He would be a great addition to the cause.

Chad, had no idea you were a Georgian! I should pay more attention to people's stats.

[jberry03]

Good to see another "cantonian" keeping snakes. I hope to meet some of you at the show this weekend. I will be wearing a PSI engineering sweatshirt.

[spike06]

Originally Posted by jbd123

Here's what basically is going to happen:
The bill looks like it's just a regulation bill, but the kicker is that you have to have a wild animal permit.
To get the wild animal permit, you have to follow certain rules...the one rule that is troubling is this...
"animal must be kept away from a residence".
In other words, if you have a PET snake that is listed on this bill, you can no longer have it as a pet. You must be a registered business/zoo/educational facility, etc.
So anyone who has these snakes AS A PET in the State of Georgia, you better do something about it.
Visit Untitled Documentfor more detailed info. I know the website doesn't look all that great but I built it in 30 minutes.
Other things to consider: the bill is $236.00 a year per collection and your animal must be microchipped.
$236 isn't so bad if it's a one time fee...but per year, that is a little excessive. Then again, the permit is not designed for individuals.
I do however agree with the microchip thing, but what I do not like is the fact that the government can come in your house and inspect whenever they like. Personally, I see it as an invasion of privacy.

i really only have one thing to say about all this.
The Government SUCKS! all they do is what they think is best for themselves. in the Bill of Rights we have the right to bare arms, but we don;t have the right to keep a snake? seriously? how many people actually die in the US from non venemous snakes every year? i can guarantee that guns kill hundreds of thousands more every year. the government should maybe let us vote on something like this, ya know? this country is supposed to be a Democracy, but yet we don;t get to vote

[BWSmith]

Alright, I just got back from the first hearing at the state capital regarding this. The sen proposing the ban said that he started looking at burms because of the kid dying in Florida. Here are bullet points:
- DNR supports the addition to the wild animal permit
- insurance and housing separate from a residence would not be required
- Pit tagging of animals over 2" diam required (may still get removed)
- The permit fee is $236 a year. If it goes through, it will likely be every 2 years
- GA Wildlife Federation supports it
- The stated goal is to "know how many are in the state" and to make sure people REALLY want a burm and don't impulse buy
- There would likely be a 1 year grace period and/or the first year permit free
- This would apply to Burms, afrocks, retics, scrubs and green anacondas (not yellows)
- There was noone flat out opposing the regulation
- Jason Clark has done a great job so far of getting them to loosen the bill a bit
- There is a study at the SREL in GA to see if burms could survive outdoors in GA all year. Surprisingly, even with the VERY cold weather, none have died. This lends credence that they COULD establish here.
- The bill is currently being ammended. I believe that it is to make the permit good for two years rather than one.

The next hearing is Wed at 2pm at the state capital in room 450. I will be speaking at this hearing. I had never been to a state senate hearing before so I wanted to get a feel for it first.

[morti]

None of that sounds too onorous except for the housing separate from the residence part.

I still don't want it to pass, but I would focus on getting that amended out if it were me.

[Future Snake Guy]

Originally Posted by spike06

this country is supposed to be a Democracy, but yet we don;t get to vote

theres the problem lol.. you already voted. your not suppose to get to vote on a bill.. the elected official you vote in is suppose to vote on those bills and have your (obviously reptile keepers excluded) wishes in mind. funny how goverment works lol.

[BWSmith]

Well the separate housing and insurance were removed. but $236 every two years is still steep. That is more than all of my other permits combined.

[morti]

It is steep. And I absolutely don't want it to pass... but it could be far worse.

[snakehooked]

That's a pretty steep permit, even worse than mine.