exactly... there'll come a time when Fl needs (or wants) to create revenue once the legal specimens have all but been wiped out of other states and these "pets" will probably command a high dollar and only (legally) b available through trappers and re-sellers from florida. at that point, floridas stance on the whole situation, i'm sure will be a complete 180 in favor of their new found monopoly on the legal export of these animals.
not to mention the current way of handling these snakes in Fl is more of one that would preserve their standings in the wild rather than obliterate it. we've all seen the shows. they catch them, bag them tag them, then keep them. when the facility is blown over by the next hurricane, where are they going? not to mention, i believe there's an established hunting season for them. for those that don't know, hunting seasons are typically to control populations so they don't get out of hand and become a detriment to their own numbers. hunting seasons are designed to keep the highest population of a wild species healthy as possible without over populating and wiping out the whole population through the rampant spread of disease and lack of resources, starvation, etc..
i believe not only is this legislation ignorant to the truth, but it has a very narrow list of possible outcomes all leading to shutting down the reptile/herp/snake industry everywhere and forcing Fl to re-open it as an exclusive export trade to the rest of the country.
the sad part is many hard working, respectable individuals that care for their animals are going to lose revenue including some that might just be put on the street. instead we're paying (out of our taxes, not free will mind you) more chair and pc wielding bureaucrats who are useless without a pencil and a mouse much more money than any of these hard working individuals and deserve less to sit down, make bills on false statistics and their free will, misunderstandings and irrational fears and push them on the unsuspecting masses under false circumstances. so now that we've all already paid to fight for this ridiculous, retarded bill that was written without a factual or intelligent effort to find the truth or an alternative with less negative impact on so many people, those of us who oppose it are repaid with a long, expensive taxing struggle to get nowhere. those of us who don't oppose it on the other hand, aren't repaid with anything useful... but you guys do get to pay for more enforcement officers and whole new divisions in some counties/states to look over the situation a little more strongly.
one would think all this time, effort and money could be spent wiser on a program to educate the citizens living close enough to the problem and put together a program to remove the animals from the problem area... maybe even pass legislation where zones are created and licenses are issued for exotic animal ownership.
heck, even though, i'd probably never wear them, i'd pay for a pair of snakeskin boots if i knew the revenue was going back to support cleanup efforts. i think that's a good idea, too... products. if the gov't would give out grants to get businesses started that made and sold snakeskin products, it would create jobs instead of disband them. creating revenue is important. it's incentive that'll keep this country going. the money we have now only goes around so fast.
