Stewart Reptiles

On Wednesday February 3rd GA Senate Bill 303 was heard before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & the Environment. This was the second hearing in a week regarding S303. Prior to the hearing USARK President, Andrew Wyatt, contacted Senator Douglas (the bill’s sponsor), Committee Chair Senator Tolleson and Vice Chair Senator Bulloch, and presented USARK’s Model State Legislation as a potential Committee Substitute. At the hearing USARK was represented by B.W. Smith of Atlanta who distributed copies of USARK’s proposal  to the rest of the Committee Members. He then eloquently outlined the proposal and answered questions. S303 in its current form is cost prohibitive and does not address issues of secure containment and escape prevention. Further it makes no provision for the animals that could be rendered worthless and homeless overnight.

The benefits of the USARK proposal are:

* Secure Containment Required
* Safety & Escape Prevention Protocols
* No Permits, Fees or Central Administration
* Clear Remedy for Violations
* No Cost to State

The Committee decided to postpone a vote on S303 while members review the USARK proposal as a potential Committee Substitute. USARK would like to thank Senators Douglas, Toleson and Bulloch, as well as all the Members of the Committee, for their consideration. USARK looks forward to working with Committee Staff and Members to craft a bill that will provide best industry management standards for addressing the issues of secure containment and escape prevention without being prohibitive and forcing undue pressure on small business. If passed as written S303 could mean the loss of hundreds of jobs.

We need many more emails sent to provide grass roots support of our message in the GA Senate. Let’s show the GA Senate the Reptile Nation is serious. OPPOSE S303-  Send an Email to the Senate Natural Resources Committee today to OPPOSE S303. Click here: http://usark.org/campaign.php?id=10

***Stay tuned for date and time of next Committee Hearing. Please attend if possible. There is Strength in Numbers… Protect Your Rights!***

This is a link to the USARK press release in the Atlanta Business Chronicle: http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/prnewswire/press_releases.

 

The DEADLINE for getting your letters opposing S373 to Tom Wolfe has been extended to Wednsday January 20th. Last day to overnight will be Tuesday the 19th. We don’t believe the Senate will be back for a vote untill then. We have an extra 10 days to push our numbers up higher. Please take advantage of this opportunity! This is extremely serious. If we do not succeed 1/3 of the Reptile Nation could be destroyed! Thousands will lose jobs. Many businesses will be bankrupted. Individuals could lose their homes. The time to ACT is NOW!!!!

We need an ALL OUT effort right now. It is very simple. Write your letters like we did when we killed HR669. It is the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do right now. Follow the instructions below:

1. Letters to your Senators- Go to www.Kill-S373.com and follow the instructions. Use the ‘Sample Letter’. Watch the instructional video. There is no substitute for REAL letters. Do it NOW!!!

2. Email your Senators- This is NOT a substitute for REAL letters. Click here we have made it easy for you. http://www.rallycongress.com/united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers/2705/tell-us-senate-to-stop-python-ban/

3. Contact the Media- ‘Pythons, Politics & Death of the American Dream’ campaign. Click on the links below:
     • MSNBC- http://www.rallycongress.com/united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers/2766/msnbc-pythons-politics-death-american-dream/
     • CNN-  http://www.rallycongress.com/united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers/2765/cnn-pythons-politics-death-american-dream/Â
     • FOX News- http://www.rallycongress.com/united-states-association-of-reptile-keepers/2726/pythons-politics-death-american-dream/

The future of the Reptile Nation could be decided by what you as an individual are prepared to do over the next few days. Do not miss this opportunity to make a difference! Our community needs to pull together as never before. Do NOT let this be the final days of the Reptile Industry and Hobby!

Special Message to Industry Leaders: If you make your living in the reptile trade you need to do all of the things listed above that the rest of the Reptile Nation is doing… and more! It is your responsibility to get a meeting with your Senator and make your case. You represent the industry in your state. By making direct contact with your Senators you give them a reason to oppose S373. Jobs and the Economy are important. Make your case. The time is NOW!!!

***Please Click the USARK Donate Button at the top of this page and contribute $10 to help pay for the USARK Kill S373 Letter Campaign***

www.Kill-S373.com - NEW DEADLINE January 20, 2010… overnight mail by January 19th.

S373 aka ‘The Python Ban’ has been amended to include the 9 great constrictors referenced in the recent report released by the US Geological Survey entitled Giant Constrictors: Biological and Management Profiles and an Establishment Risk Assessment for Nine Large Species of Pythons, Anacondas, and the Boa Constrictor. If passed as written S373 would add all 9 snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act making it a felony to engage in the import, export and interstate transport of any of these animals.

This possibility is unacceptable to USARK and the Reptile Nation. We are encouraging everyone with an interest in S373 to click on www.kill-s373.com and participate in the USARK Kill S373 Letter Campaign. There you will find step by step instructions, a sample letter, contact information and even an instructional video to help you write your US Senators an effective letter opposing S373. We have learned that written letters are one of the most effective ways to lobby Congress. Sending an email is NOT enough! Write your letters. Get your friends and family involved writing letters too.

USARK spearheaded a similar letter writing campaign last spring. The Reptile Nation generated 50,000 letters opposing HR669. The bill was crushed. Time to do it again! Spread the web address www.kill-s373.com all over the internet. Put it on your facebook page. Put it on your My Space page. Twitter it. Post it on every forum or social networking site that you frequent. Email it to everyone you know! www.kill-s373.com will take you straight to the resources you need to do your letters. We have made it as easy as it can possibly be, but it will require some effort. January 12th is our deadline. We don’t have much time. Do it today!

If you are an Industry Leader You Must Make an APPOINTMENT to MEET With Your Senators!! If you care about your business you will do this!!!

***Please Click the USARK Donate Button at the top of this page and contribute $10 to help pay for the USARK Kill S373 Letter Campaign***

www.kill-s373.com – DEADLINE January 12, 2010