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To: muawiyah
We had a wholesaler get bit by a black mamba years ago when I had just moved into Fairfax. He died even though they flew in antivenom to him. There's a lot more of this stuff going on than people realize. The wholesalers and the practitioners try to keep it secret.

Most of these snakes can live outside in CA and FL - and do... It's only a question of time before a few of them meet up and start breeding.

At least in Indiana they die in the winter. What's wrong with congress for not doing something about this issue before it's too late.

49 posted on 11/15/2006 9:07:04 AM PST by GOPJ (The MSM 's so busy kissing democrat butt they can't see straight - come up for air guys.)
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To: GOPJ
Most of these snakes can live outside in CA and FL - and do... It's only a question of time before a few of them meet up and start breeding.

At least in Indiana they die in the winter. What's wrong with congress for not doing something about this issue before it's too late.

Your statement simply isn't true. Most non-native snakes that are brought to this country are from places near the equator. The most common imported snake in the pet industry is the ball python. The natural range of the ball python is within about 20 degrees of the equator. The southern extreme of Texas is about 26 degrees north of the equator. The southern extreme of Florida is around 25 degrees north of the equator. Those six degrees make a huge difference in climate, and ball pythons would not survive our winters.

If there's a reason for Congress not doing something, the reason is that there's no public health threat or environmental threat associated with these animals. The venomous snakes are never going to be common, and most states already regulate venomous snakes under state law. The non-venomous snakes are not a threat at all and certainly not a threat when compared to the 20 to 30 deaths and about 800,000 injuries caused yearly by dog bites. I'm glad that Congress has so far refused to force some people's fears and prejudice on the rest of us who enjoy owning these magnificent animals.

Bill

110 posted on 11/17/2006 9:22:33 AM PST by WFTR (Liberty isn't for cowards)
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