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

[MadRussian79]

"Despite the difficulties in showing the effect most predators have on their prey, cats are known to have serious impacts on small mammals and birds. Worldwide, cats may have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction."

This is the Autobahn society horse crap. Yes cat eat birds but that would not be even a slight problem without habitat destruction. If we continue the habitat destruction the birds are dead any way, the rancor these feral homo sapiens direct at cats is a meaningless gesture.

The most invasive species is humans start limiting feral human breeding and all these problems go away.

 

[cichlid2006]

so if this goes through how many of you are planning on moving abroad where we get to keep asian aros, snakeheads etc???

 

[Robbwilder]

You need to email these people. You need to call there offices. We need to start
OPERATION MELT THE PHONES!!

This was done to try to oppose the Stimulus Act.

Get on every pet site. Explain what this is.

START OPERATION MELT THE PHONES!!

Not only will we have our hobby taking away BUT we will be paying more in tax dollars to make sure it is banned.

START MELTING THE PHONES!

Work the Republicans more on the business aspects of this. This will be a HUGE Hit to the ECONOMY! This will be crippling to states like Florida. Contact there representatives too.

MELT THE PHONES!!!

 

[Aquamojo]

This is the Autobahn society horse crap. Yes cat eat birds but that would not be even a slight problem without habitat destruction. If we continue the habitat destruction the birds are dead any way, the rancor these feral homo sapiens direct at cats is a meaningless gesture.

Actually the "Autobahn" is a big highway in Europe. The "Audubun" is a society that's focus is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife. The information I posted came from the Pet Center.Com...a group of veterinarians.

Your suggestion of reducing "feral" humans was...kind of addressed...by a guy named Hitler. It ended up not being a plan that worked...or very popular. That's about the only thing the topic at hand and his vision have in common.

But on to the discussion at hand.

 

[krichardson]

"Despite the difficulties in showing the effect most predators have on their prey, cats are known to have serious impacts on small mammals and birds. Worldwide, cats may have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction."

This is the Autobahn society horse crap. Yes cat eat birds but that would not be even a slight problem without habitat destruction. If we continue the habitat destruction the birds are dead any way, the rancor these feral homo sapiens direct at cats is a meaningless gesture.

The most invasive species is humans start limiting feral human breeding and all these problems go away.

You seem to be missing the point of why AquaMojo brought this up in the first place.

 

[CichlidsRool]

You're misreading the proposed statute. Those species would be statutorily exempt from regulation. The USFWS would be required to promulgate regulations listing "approved species." The determination of what species would ultimately be listed in the "approved species" list to would depend on public input and the factors set forth in the proposed statute.

IMO, this a completely asinine way to regulate. It reminds me of Australia, which has a similar regulatory scheme. Given that potentially harmful non-native species comprise a small percentage of total non-native species, it makes vastly more sense to regulate by listing the few prohibited species, i.e., the current Lacey Act regulatory scheme, than to list each and every conceivable harmless approved species. Australia has a similar regulatory scheme to what is proposed w/ HR 669 and it's a complete clusterf**k. Datnoids are illegal in Australia, not because they are potentially harmful to the local biota, but because someone neglected to put them on the approved species list. If HR 669 is passed, USFWS will have its hands full compiling a list of the hundreds of thousands of harmless "approved" species. It will be an implementation nightmare.

Imagine if controlled substances were regulated in the same manner. Law enforcement agencies would have to memorize an exhaustive list of every "approved" substance, rather than memoraizing a much shorter list of prohibited substances.

Sorry my be i should have been more clear, research i have done so far says This means that if you own or plan on owning a hamster, gerbil, ferret, non native bird (ie- African Grey, amazon parrot, macaw, parakeet, cockatiel...), snake, fish (only goldfish allowed), reptiles (iguana, beared dragon, leopard gecko.....) and countless other animals including exotics such as chinchillas, degus, sugar gliders....these would be banned and you would have to show that you owned these prior to the bill going in effect to keep or they would end up where all the other ones waiting for homes would go --- killed!!!!

This also means that if you own any of the above you would not be allowed to breed these (even by accident - ie, hamsters). Any offspring would have to be destroyed.

This will also affect those animals awaiting adoption and other non-native wildlife currently held in captivity such as tigers, elephants, and monkeys that are being held in sanctuary's as well as marine life in aquariums. I am sure some Liberal jack started this bull they have nothing to do but to bush United States of America to Socialism.....

 

[MadRussian79]

You seem to be missing the point of why AquaMojo brought this up in the first place.

Fair point, the feral humans comment was a matter of looking at the bigger problems like deforestation/habitat lose as opposed to cats or fish kept for pet purposes. I read an article a while back about how in South east Asia local fish were being intentionally wiped out with mustard cakes to make room for food fish, I think in TFH. If we make it more profitable to sell aquarists ornamental fish they will stop, or at least maintain protected non-food native stocks. If you educate humans they stop being feral.

If companies are making more money shipping rays to the US that growing agrocultural products on cut down rain foretsts then they will continue to do so, and keep the rain forest safe out of self interest. Greed has saved more environmental lands than any good intentioned stupidity.

 

[ewurm]

I've contacted the scheduler for the distinguished congressman from my district. I encourage you to call, write or email your congressman. A petition is beneficial, but I have been informed by the pet industry lobby that a petition is usually viewed as one voice of opposition. Contact your Representative and voice your opinion.

 

[mike dunagan]

When your young and your not liberal... you have no heart... when your old and not conservative you have no brain... my .02

Do not steal from Churchill. lol

The issue is that the states already are governing themselves. Minnesota and Florida do not need the same laws pertaining to non-native species, because most of them can't survive here anyway. The same goes for any other state. If California, Florida, and Guam would like to toughen their laws, it's fine by me. They probably need it. As far as a sweeping ban on importing non-native animals and an approved "list", this list will be drafted by people who are not hobbyists and don't understand the industry. The hobby will virtually die in this country. The bill is poorly written and too broad to be of any value. It will cost millions to enforce while USFW is strained for resources. It's not a good bill even if you are a stringent conservationist.

I've contacted the scheduler for the distinguished congressman from my district. I encourage you to call, write or email your congressman. A petition is beneficial, but I have been informed by the pet industry lobby that a petition is usually viewed as one voice of opposition. Contact your Representative and voice your opinion.

This is straight Anti-Federalist movement. These are rights that should be reserved to the states.

 

[ewurm]

This is straight Anti-Federalist movement. These are rights that should be reserved to the states.

This is true. The Representative of Guam (do they pay U.S. taxes?) has overstepped her boundaries in proposing this broad and sweeping legislation. She has failed to foresee the economic impact on many Americans and also has failed to research the actual impact of invasive species as it pertains to individual states. This is irresponsible legislation, and even if it does not make it out of the house it has cost the tax payers millions of dollars of wasted productivity. Either Guam needs to start paying taxes, or they need to stop being represented. Representation without taxation is as Unamerican as taxation without representation.