HR 669 : CONGRESSIONAL HEARING BANNING NONNATIVE SPECIES APRIL 23, 2009 ACTION NEEDED

For some reason I can't edit my post....

If this is the case, that the actions of a few people need affect the majority, does this mean we can ban all pit bulls, because some people use them in dog fights? Can we also ban mice and cockroaches, since they can spread disease? Can we arrest people who don't wash their hands after they use the restroom? How about people who come to work sick, knowingly, and give everyone else the flu? If we want a nanny state, let's really make us all safe!

A biologist friend of mine mentioned that the head sponsor of the bill is in Guam, a place where native life is being replaced by people releasing their animals. So rather than take on her own country's laws, perhaps even start a new field and game department whose only concern is with released animals, the rep decides to go national and try and outlaw everything to everyone, save for simple farm stock. She does this for our own good, I'm sure.

"Those who torture us for our own good will torture us without end."

And, Teleost, if you want to take responsibility for the actions of morons everywhere, please do, but only at your own cost. I don't want to pay for some moron's mistakes in this manner. For all the responsible keepers and breeders, why should they stop their breeding programs, especially of species who are endangered or extinct in the wild, alll because a yobbo bought a pangasius cat at PetsMart and released it in the river?
 
If this is the case, that the actions of a few people need affect the majority, does this mean we can ban all pit bulls, because some people use them in dog fights? Can we also ban mice and cockroaches, since they can spread disease? Can we arrest people who don't wash their hands after they use the restroom? How about people who come to work sick, knowingly, and give everyone else the flu? If we want a nanny state, let's really make us all safe!
Click to expand...
I understand your position and I agree to a point. Is it unfair that millions of responsible people might lose their hobby? I sure think so. Is it unfair that future generations will never be able to study native species of fish certain to perish FOREVER due to an irresponsible minority?

A biologist friend of mine mentioned that the head sponsor of the bill is in Guam, a place where native life is being replaced by people releasing their animals. So rather than take on her own country's laws, perhaps even start a new field and game department whose only concern is with released animals, the rep decides to go national and try and outlaw everything to everyone, save for simple farm stock. She does this for our own good, I'm sure.
Click to expand...
This type of legislation has been poking around for many, many years. No need to pick on an individual. I can say that I believe if states had been more proactive about policing what fish go where, this bill could never have made it this far.

And, Teleost, if you want to take responsibility for the actions of morons everywhere, please do, but only at your own cost. I don't want to pay for some moron's mistakes in this manner. For all the responsible keepers and breeders, why should they stop their breeding programs, especially of species who are endangered or extinct in the wild, alll because a yobbo bought a pangasius cat at PetsMart and released it in the river?
Click to expand...
Unfortuanately this attitude is also shared by the majority in this hobby and those who sell fish in shops, distributors and at the import level.

You basically just want me to accept that native fish will and should go extinct because you want them in your aquarium. This is possibly the most selfish position one could take. You don't want to take responsibility, you want someone else to. You don't want to change your ways, you want me to. You don't seem to care at all about other peoples mistakes and are happy to have me care. ME ME ME ME. I'll bet this not far for what the fish lobby is saying to congress about now.


Edit to add: Simply put, what's at balance is really easy to understand. If we want fish in aquariums at home, we must lose native fish forever. If this bill does not pass one will soon for this very reason
 
teleost said:
I understand your position and I agree to a point. Is it unfair that millions of responsible people might lose their hobby? I sure think so. Is it unfair that future generations will never be able to study native species of fish certain to perish FOREVER due to an irresponsible minority?

This type of legislation has been poking around for many, many years. No need to pick on an individual. I can say that I believe if states had been more proactive about policing what fish go where, this bill could never have made it this far.

Unfortuanately this attitude is also shared by the majority in this hobby and those who sell fish in shops, distributors and at the import level.

You basically just want me to accept that native fish will and should go extinct because you want them in your aquarium. This is possibly the most selfish position one could take. You don't want to take responsibility, you want someone else to. You don't want to change your ways, you want me to. You don't seem to care at all about other peoples mistakes and are happy to have me care. ME ME ME ME. I'll bet this not far for what the fish lobby is saying to congress about now.


Edit to add: Simply put, what's at balance is really easy to understand. If we want fish in aquariums at home, we must lose native fish forever. If this bill does not pass one will soon for this very reason
Click to expand...

I expect for you to get rid of all of your exotic fish today, if that's your viewpoint.

And that is too extreme. We will not lose our native fishes if we keep exotics in aquaria. We just need for the people who would release fishes to understand what their ignorant/selfish/ill-considered actions can do.
 
persuasive topic: why you should sign the hr 669 petition

hi. me and 2 of my friends are doing a persuasive speech topic over the HR 669 bill. however. the spech is one 90seconds and we need to make it simple and easy to understand bcuz alot of the people in our very "uneducated" when it comes to the subject of domestic fish, reptiles, inverts, etc. so they have no idea the impact that this bill can have on our hobby. we need to explain to them and persuade them why it is that they should sign a petition or be against the HR 669, but make it easy and simple to understand. so if you can make it easy to understand and break it down to just the major points (or whatever you want to call them) so to make explaining easier. as well as any ways you can use to help get the point across and persuade them. we will appreciate any help that is offered

i am open to all ideas and sugestions and will consider them, so please be serious.


Austin
 
One thing that may appeal to a good lot of people, who might not mind if all reptiles were banned, is that the ban also covers birds and small mammals, such as ferrets and guinea pigs. Bettas will be gone as well.

Teleost, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're a fan of the HSUS' continual attempted banning of pet reptiles.
 
As for the damage issue, felines are, at least in my neck of the woods, responsible for a lot of damage
Click to expand...

Duh. Lol. I was just thinking that. Actually, they're responsible for a lot of damage all over the world. Australia, Hawaii, etc.

Teleost, like most people who complete all of the following steps: 1. take the time to come online, 2. take the time to join a pet forum, 3. take the time to interact in it, I obviously care about the pet hobby and being responsible about it. I would never release anything anywhere. I open my big mouth at stores when I see that a water bowl is low or dirty. If one of my friends isn't housing their pet correctly, I'll confront them. I'll stand outside a mall pet shop window looking in at the puppymill puppies and sigh and shake my head and say to myself how it's so sad every time somebody stands next to me.

If I see somebody buying a mesh hermit crab tank at the beach, I'll talk their ear off if they'll listen, about why it's not a suitable habitat.

Like me, the other people on this forum took the time to be here. Most of us are here because we care about pets and want to do right by them. Most of us aren't the type of people who would release a snakehead into a local pond because we were too stupid to think ahead about it outgrowing a cute little ten gallon tank.
 
teleost said:
Do forums actively participate in spreading the word of the dangers of releasing fish? Do you talk to the pet shops you frequent and tell them to spread the word? What pressure have you put on the industry that you're so willing to voice upon congress? Sure you care right now but what about the other 364 days of the year? Apparently Americans either do not take this seriously or we have our heads too far up our hind ends to realize what we're doing.
Click to expand...

I just want to work on this quote and say yes we do. There are many of us who do promote responsible pet keeping on forums. I am not sure where you are getting your information? Do you belong to many forums that are just pet related and not just tropical fish?

I belong to about a half dozen forums that are tropical fish and also reptile related. I also do educational talks about reptiles and the environment. I spread the word about being a responsible pet owner to children. Do you?
What do you do on a daily basis that helps promote what you are saying?

Most of the shops I go to, promote responsible pet care as well. They will refuse to sell to people if they feel the person isn't buying the animal for the right reasons.

But this weekend, i talked to a few distributors on fish and animals and this bill does have them worried. If this bill goes through it will shut down many businesses that work with Reptiles and Amphibians, Tropical fish and birds.
Just imagine all the pet supply companies just closing up. It is a multi billion dollar industry in the United states. Like I said, it has Professional Fish only stores scared.

Now before people say well its mainly going to effect reptiles, what should I care? Well Just look at the NARBC shows, they are bringing more and more people every year. At most of these shows where they sell and trade reptiles they can barely fit all the people that want to go inside. Its just amazing.

It would be a shame to end a hobby right when more people are trying to explore new pet options.
 
669 bill what ima do bout it

was guna go to my uncles 4 his sons 9th bday party but now ima stay home and do some busines and go from door and get ppl to sign a petition to keep any fish from going banned AND TO GET OTHER FISH UNBANNED! id rather have smoking banned then fish!! so u all should do the petition and get ppl to sign it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom