Snake restrictions have ripple effect
Your article (Jan. 31) concerning constrictor snake restrictions hits home with me. These bills (House and Senate versions) or a rule change by USFWS would have far-reaching impacts.
Not only would pet owners be punished but thousands of small businesses would be hurt and potentially put out of business. This would cause a ripple effect across other sectors of the economy. Herpetoculture is a non-traditional agricultural pursuit that represents a $3 billion annual trade in the United States.
Reptiles aren’t suitable pets for everyone, but as the article demonstrates, a growing number of people enjoy maintaining them as companion animals. For those who choose to provide the necessary care, they become cherished members of their families. To these folks your article raises concerns and fears with no apparent avenue to oppose the proposed restrictions.
Currently there are two organizations working with lawmakers to minimize the negative effects to individuals and small businesses. Concerned citizens should contact the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, www.usark.org, and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, www.pijac.org, to find out what they can do to protect their rights as pet and business owners.
All pet owners must accept responsibility for the animals they maintain, regardless of the species.
RICO WALDER
Signal Herpetoculture
Work together to solve problems
Democrats have had the moniker of “Tax and Spend” hung on them for years, maybe with some justification, at times. However the Republicans’ “Spend and Borrow” policies from 2001 through 2008 is the primary cause of our debt. During the Clinton years our financial house had gotten quite healthy and then it “went to (dickens) in a hand basket” in the subsequent eight years.
A recession was looming when Bush took office. His “stimulus plan” was a $1.3 trillion tax cut, which went primarily to the wealthiest 3 percent. This “wealth giveaway” provided negligible improvement to the economy and put us back into deficits. Added to this was an expensive “Medicare Drug Plan” that wasn’t paid for, plus two wars (Afghanistan and Iraq) that weren’t paid for. The trillions we put into bailouts in late 2009 and early 2010 only exacerbated our problems.
Let’s give President Obama a little time and opportunity to “right” our financial ship. His proposal to set up an independent high level commission to address our “Deficit and Debt” problem was rejected in the Senate, with every Republican senator voting against it. “Why?” Our elected officials must stop bickering and start working together to solve our problems.
CHARLES J. ROGERS
Lynchburg, Tenn.
Historical points about bravery
Re: the letter (Jan. 30) by William R. Reinhart. Mr. Reinhart is to be commended for his concern for our folks in the military.
This letter is meant to correct a couple of historical points.
First, the five Sullivan brothers were lost in the sinking of the cruiser USS Juneau, CL-52, in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Nov. 13, 1942. Two different Navy ships have been named for the Sullivans since then.
The four chaplains were lost in the sinking of the Army transport Dorchester, Feb. 3, 1943. An account of the bravery of these fine men may be reviewed at www.fourchaplains.net. I believe a movie was made of this event. I recall seeing a movie years ago about the brave Sullivans.
GENE TRUAX
Apison, Tenn.