Why Legislation?

[natsamjosh]

(01-21-2010 11:41 PM)Zuzana Wrote:  I have been repeating it for years, but not everybody listens, or they listen when it might be too late...
Scary thing is how they hide these bans, like VA monkey ban is hidden in existing wolf dog regualtion, wolf dogs are not banned, just regulated, but ban on monkeys paragrph is added to wolf hybrid caging requirements, This i s sneaky and makes it so hard at time search legislative sites as one doesn't knwo where to look anymnore to find it in weird places.
Z

Uncowboy wrote
<<Zuzana this was my thoughts exactly as I expressed them to Andrew. Adding legislation and negotiating with the Politicians just opens the door to further restrictions in our hobby. It's just gonna be easier to add an animal or a ban line in the future. Thanks for sharing your opinion on this matter>>

Zuzana,

A lot of use share your sentiments, and we screamed at the top of our lungs that negotiating with a dishonest opponent (that doesn't want responsible animal ownership, it wants NO ownership) is just plain stupid. We were told we were ignorant, divisive, had our "heads in the sand", etc., etc. Very frustrating, to say the least.

Just to tap your brain, I'm curious about what's going on. I knew the AR groups were powerful, but are they that powerful that they can get even state legislation going on at the same time in multiple states? Or is this just a "pet" issue (and in cases of permitting, a source of revenue) for Democrats that has just gained momentum? Or does the Dept. of Interior, which we know is not acting in the name of science, have some influence as well?? Or is it a combination of some or all of these? A year ago I never imagined anything like this would be possible, it's insanity.

Thanks,
Ed

[Zuzana]

Ed, just short history.
Divide and conquer game on AR part. Over 10 years ago they AR started going after big cat owners, an d I mean, unless you own a tiger, how can u oppose tiger ban? Many other smaller exotic owners were supporting (or NOT opposing) these bans against big cats, believing public safety issues scare tactics AR did. Some bans included other ig ‘scary’ mammals liek bears, non human primates, etc.. This gave AR a way in, they got to know the legislators personally, gained credibility as ‘exotic experts’...etc...
Now that the rest of exotic or even domestic industry is waking up an d realizing we big exotic mammal owners were never public safety issue to begin with, it was the same scare tactic like snakes on the planes,...LIES,..., the same way your snakes are not a public safety issue, AR are over 10 years ahead financially and with lobby/political and public credibility,... connections,.... they/AR are winging the divide and conquer animal community game..plus, as u see, there is lot s of egos and infighting within animal commu8nity
Hard to find a leader that is right and people actually respect and follow long term
Z