[color=green]For the Love of the Hobby: Our Back Is Against A Wall...Again[/color]

[Dragon_sanctuary]

Hey everybody...

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/
bill_to_address_exotic_animal_importation_introduced_012709.html

Congress is at it again. This time, it involves a full import ban.
Of course we all know the implications of this. And I believe we all
know what we need to do: fight it.

And I have a plan.

I'm trying to unite every reptile keeper I know across the country to
fight this. My idea is this: Everyone needs to have a huddle and
figure out who is in driving distance of whom, and we need to begin
meeting. We need to elect a commitee leader for each group who will
also be the spokesperson for the group. We need to get together paper
petetions and take them to every reptile owner, pet store and coture
shop (this will affect them too, because snake and lizard skin is hot
right now) and then send them to congress. We also need to get
peaceful protest groups together and picket every offical building we
can get to. Lastly, we'll need to send these speakers to Senate and
the House of Representatives to hear our case, and we'll need a rep
from every state. This is the only way we'll be able to lay this
issue to rest.

I'm willing to head up the Southern California committee...or a
committee for all of Cali, if I must. Anyone who is willing to help
me on this, whatever state you're in, you can email me at
dragon_in_the_pines@live.com. Please, please join me in this. For the
love of our animals, and for our hobby.

Sincerely,
Jenn 'Dragon' Bellew.

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

This is really great Jenn!!  I'm not sure how much help I can be as I work full time and go to school full time, but whatever you need that I can do, just let me know.  You can IM/Email me at southernamada@yahoo.com   Oh and I'm in NC living at the beach

[Jenr66]

Well its a great idea and I am in if I can help!! But anyways i am in TX

[Dragon_sanctuary]

Fantastic you guys! Thanks! I'll have to look and see if I have any other contacts in NC; Got some in TN for sure.

As for Texas, I have another couple intrested already; would you like me to get their info to you?

I need to find some locals here (cali) intrested as well. So far, all my replies have been across the country. That's good though; that means that everyone is intrested in this!

Let me know if you guys need help with material or starting groups!

--Jenn.

[Dragon_sanctuary]

Here is a link to the actual bill: http://www.opencongress.org/ bill/111-h669/text This will affect more than just snake owners. What they are proposing will kill the entire pet trade. This ban will affect all exotics, not just boid snakes. It'll affect lizards, chenalonians, fish, birds, pretty much everything but common domestic animals. This is what PeTA and the HSUS have been waiting for, and they'll really jump on this bandwagon hard and fast. We have to stop this before it even gets rolling, people; we have got to act quickly. Imagine the number of exotic-specific stores, breeders and vets who will be affected by this. The scope of this bill is huge, and the implications are frightening. Let's put this thing down before it gains momentum!

[Dragon_sanctuary]

In the interim while I'm getting paper petetions typed up to send to people, I think our best course of action is going to be to write our reps about this. you can find your rep at http://www.house.gov/ You'll want tp be professional, cordial and non-emotional when contacting them so they will hear your case. I will post my letter here when it's finished and you guys can use it as a template for your own if you'd like. I'll be keeping in touch.

--Jenn.