New Texas Legislature Convenes – Will Reptile Hobbyists Be Targeted Again?
Its almost a whole different world, literally, from when the Texas Legislature convened on 2008 and imposed crippling restrictions on Texas reptile hobbyists, dismantling a state sporting tradition and culture that stretched back to the 50′s, a sport that added millions to the coffers of local merchants over the years, imposed additional costs on the already constricted parks and wildlife system and did nothing to “improve the safety” of Texans, as it was billed. Will the state go even further this year? Anxious eyes are going to be watching the legislature closely to see if the restrictions are expanded further or if someone with sense will see the light and get the restrictions lifted.
Last year Texans saw 2 major changes to reptile laws, one that requires owners of certain large constrictors and non-native venomous snakes to get a permit, and another that bans collecting on virtually the only public lands that are readily accessible to the public, alongside the millions of miles of Texas roadways.
While the legislature has deemed it unsafe for reptile hobbyists to walk along the roadways and shoulders and look for reptiles, it apparently has no problems letting cub scouts and other groups do virtually the same thing, and in fact encourages such similar activities through it’s “Adopt A Highway Program”. So while it’s not safe to take an adult out to walk alongside Texas roads to look for snakes and lizards, its perfectly safe to send children out to walk those same roadways and pick up pop bottles and cans, not to mention the millions of other nasty discarded items along our roadways.
That makes no sense.
And in these rough financial times does it make any sense not only to spend money to do this, but to actually take money out of the pockets of the hotels, cafes, gas stations and other merchants that depend on those snake collecting tourist dollars to exist? I guess we should maybe ask the people of Sanderson Texas. Sanderson, a popular hunting area in the spring, used to swarm with hundreds of reptile collectors during it’s peak, filling the hotels, buying stuff at the local shops, getting vehicles fixed, eating lunch. Now those people don’t come any more, they don’t spend their money there, and another revenue stream for the town has dried up. After their bank failed in late 2008 do the people of Sanderson need any more bad news?
Finally the state’s dangerous snake permit system, requiring owners of certain large pythons and exotic venomous snakes to get a permit, has done nothing to improve the safety of Texas first responders as it was billed, and yet imposes a cost burden on pet owners as well as the Texas taxpayer as a whole who has to foot the bill at Texas Parks And Wildlife. Ask any firefighter, cop, or EMT which they are more concerned about on a call, the 6 foot python in a cage, or the 100lb pit bull roaming around in the house. Last time I checked Texas Parks And Wildlife wasn’t issuing permits for “dangerous dogs” and by far they account for many more incidents with first responders in Texas alone than reptiles do worldwide. Additionally, many cities and towns have their own laws and regulations regarding these animals, so now Texans are paying twice to regulate these same issues.
The Texas Legislature convenes tomorrow – will we be in their cross hairs again?
