Are Turtles Protected Under the Second Amendmant?

ESPN ^ | 2003 | Keith "Catfish" Sutton

[kissoldspot]

Out There: The trouble with turtles

You might think these animals are innocent enough, but you had better watch out; they can inflict serious pain and cause quite a panic

By Keith "Catfish" Sutton

Special to ESPNOutdoors.com

Politicians are trying to fight crime by making it illegal to own various types of firearms. So far, the stumpers haven't tried banning turtles. But it's only a matter of time.

Consider the plight of Tony Brewer in Balch Springs, Texas. Brewer was in a phone booth when two men approached, shoved a snapping turtle in his face and said, "Don't move or you're gonna get bit."

[pabianice]

Turtles are dry skinned? Neigh, neigh moose breath! We had to keep cleaning the algea of off the back of our red-earred slider every week. He couldn't swallow unless he was underwater.... (Perhaps you're thinking of the dry-land, grass-eating tortoises?)

No. All reptiles are dry-skinned. Pond turtles -- in the water most of the time -- typically get a covering of algae on their skins and shells which can be slimy-feeling. You see pond turtles sunning themselves to dry their shells and help control the algae growth. And yes, most fresh water turtles must be submerged to be able to swallow. Tortoises -- turtles that cannot swim and are purely land animals -- are a different story.