It should be legal to take large snakes across state lines

I would like to start by thanking Pro for his round. ClarificationThe resolution is: It should be legal to take large snakes across state lines.As Con, I will be arguing that it should not be legal to take large snakes across state lines. Additionally, since Pro is attempting to challenge the status quo, the majority of the burden rests on him. ArgumentsI. The Necessity and Justification of The Lacey Act.The current law against taking large snakes across state lines is known as The Lacey Act:"Under the Lacey Act, it is unlawful to import, export, sell, acquire, or purchase fish, wildlife or plants that are taken, possessed, transported, or sold: 1) in violation of U.S. or Indian law, or 2) in interstate or foreign commerce involving any fish, wildlife, or plants taken possessed or sold in violation of State or foreign law." [1]On March 23, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services had a ban enacted under this law which covered the importation and interstate transportation of four large snakes: The Burmese python, (Python molurus bivittatus) [2] The northern (Python sebae) and southern African rock pythons, (Python natalensis) [2] and the yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) [2] The rule will specifically prohibit the interstate transport and importation live snakes, their viable reproductive assets such as sperm and eggs, or any hybrids of the listed snakes. The rule does not restrict the sales of these snakes within a state as long as buyers don't try to transport the snakes across state lines. [2] So why were these snakes added to the "banned list" under the Lacey Act? The answer is simple- They are a threat to the natural surroundings, including humans, protected habitats, and other endangered species. In an NPR interview with the head of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Dan Ashe, when asked why the four species were added to the banned list gave the following response: "DAN ASHE: We've seen the Burmese python threatening 41 federal and state-listed threatened and endangered species. In Florida, we have seen the virtual eradication of small mammals." [3] When a non-native species of snake like the Burmese Python moves into an environment like the Everglades in South Florida, it's a recipe for disaster. With essentially no predators to threaten them, they can go about their business hunting and destroying the remaining species around them in this new home as the Apex Predator. It's this same scenario that presents itself for the other species listed as well. Each of them pose a significant threat to their surrounding environments, such as some pythons being found with an entire deer inside it: If that snake can swallow a deer, it can easily swallow a child, pet, or any sort of protected and endangered species that might come across its path. These aren't just horror stories, this is the reality, and as a resident of South Florida myself, the problem has become so great that we've already experienced between an 85% to 100% reduction in our mid-sized mammals like raccoons, foxes, bobcats, and opossums. [4] Those are just mid-sized mammals though. Can you imagine the larger things these snakes can eat once they grow to full size? It's hard to really imagine, unless of course you see the size of some of the larger ones that have been found lately such as the one below: What should we expect to come from these large snakes if we don't have any kind of control over them? One thing we have to keep in mind is that us Floridians are actually trying to stop this issue from spreading north. Most people believe that these snakes can't survive in the North since they flourish so well in the Everglades, but what we must keep in mind is that some of these snakes originate from lands where their native range included the foothills of the Himalayas. [5] We know these snakes can survive cold snaps which south Florida, contrary to popular belief, does experience once or twice a year where the temperature will drop into the low 40's. With this taken into consideration, it's clear that these snakes could easily survive up north, and will eventually be making there way up there once the Everglades is either dried up of food from their constant expansion, or too small for the expanding species to live comfortably. Either way, it will happen sooner rather than later, and the current bans on the import and interstate transportation of such snakes serves to stop such a thing from happening. It's also not that much of a devastating impact on current owners, because if state law permits, most owners of these species would be allowed to keep their existing animals, and would only be prohibited from moving them across state lines. Businesses would be allowed to export the species within their state from designated ports with a permit from the Fish & Wildlife Service. [2] For these reasons, I believe The Lacey Act is here to protect the majority from both harming endangered species and from being harmed by predator species. The addition of these four snakes, among the other countless additions throughout the years, is nothing more than our effort at protecting our immediate selves and environments from harmful species. We can see both the immediate damage and the potential damage that these snakes can and have caused. To reverse the actions taken would only serve to harm those who are at risk, both now and in the future. RebuttalsI. Bad SciencePro claims that "bad science" was used when determining what snakes were to be added to the banned list. However, I see no proof whatsoever to back up that claim. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has been around since 1871 [6]. Throughout the time of its existence and activities, it has largely served as a beneficial entity to the U.S. Government and is one that has instigated hundreds of projects and acts which have saved countless species of animals. To call into question the methods of this institution most certainly requires some form of valid evidence against it. Pro has offered none thus far. II. "If they travel across state lines to see a vet they become a felon."My opponent presents a scenario where if a snake owner of one of the banned species needs to see a vet who happens to be on the other side of the state lines he becomes a felon. This isn't wholly accurate though. The FWS (Fish & Wildlife Services) actually does offer special permits for interstate travel in some cases. [7] Regardless, it's not as if the snake owner can't find a vet in his own state. To assume otherwise is just ridiculous. There is no good reason why this should serve to strengthen Pro's side as ultimately it's not something that is really an issue, and is at the very least, an issue that can be easily avoided by simply taking your snake to a vet within your own state. III. "...transfer out of state and they can't find someone to take the animal in"My opponent presents a final argument posing a scenario where the person has to move out of state and can't find someone to take it in. This is, again, Pro working under the faulty assumption that there are no ways to get around it. As I showed in my previous rebuttal, there are certainly situations where an owner can acquire a special permit to travel. I see no reason why a responsible owner wouldn't be able to take the necessary steps and acquire such a permit. Furthermore, there are countless animal reserves and private collectors who would certainly be able to take the snake in, if it was a worst-case scenario. The option of having to kill it or release it isn't the only choices the snake owner would have. Thus, this argument falls flat as there are several methods to overcome such a scenario. In closing, I have presented an argument which shows both the necessity and justification of the current legal status of these snakes in regards to import and interstate travel bans. Furthermore, I've presented three rebuttals which cover each argument/scenario presented by Pro. I now return the floor to Pro. Thank you. Sources[1] http://www.fws.gov...[2] http://www.reptilesmagazine.com...[3] http://www.npr.org...[4] http://www.outdoorwriter.net...[5] http://www.csmonitor.com...[6] http://training.fws.gov...[7] http://www.fws.gov...