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Well while watching the Deviant Constrictors video today I was flabbergasted to find out this ban would also include skins. We have wanted someone with a big pocket and a loud voice on our side and IMO here it is people. The U.S. is responsible for 50% of the market for importing finished snake skin goods from Italy. I'm sure some Italian fashion houses and retailers would be interested to hear that about 50% of their snake exports won't be needed soon. The fashion industry has been under fire recently for it's use of snake skins and the assertion that the pelts are not farmed but hunted in most cases. There is a problem with illegal capture and poaching of ALL animals the world over and taking away any means do something legally only leaves the option of poaching IMO. Many American based clothing businesses also use snake skins and I think it would be prudent to let them know that if this bill goes through their products will become illegal to ship out of state and they will essentially be selling a controlled substance. If they don't put a warning on the garment they could get sued by a customer who was arrested for crossing state lines with it. I realize as snake keepers we probably would prefer to align ourselves with someone else, but I think we need to take what we can get. I doubt Tony Lama or any other American boot maker wants to lose one of the most popular styles they sell.
Mat.
Mat.
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