Australian Most Wanted....
- Thread starter reefrunner
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Not trying to overly dissect legalities but I was of the distinct impression that the ban was front-line in nature, ie, illegal to import/export. I don't know how successful rhizos are in a tank raised/bred environtment but one has to wonder if "jail time" is imminent in a possessive sense.
Perhaps my thinking is flawed......more reading.
Perhaps my thinking is flawed......more reading.
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The average ignorant hobbyist isn't going to pay +$200 for a coral that they know nothing about.
The only people who are buying rhizos know exactly what they are doing, and they don't care.
Something tells me that the gov't doesn't care what you "plead". Either you are guilty or not. If you have an illegal coral, you are guilty
The only people who are buying rhizos know exactly what they are doing, and they don't care.
Something tells me that the gov't doesn't care what you "plead". Either you are guilty or not. If you have an illegal coral, you are guilty
You kidding me with this statement? Aren't the ignorant hobbist the ones that usually over pay???
Don't care? What kinda load of crap are you smoking nowadays. This saying infuriates me. Get off your high horse man. Just because it's within the limits of the law you think you care more than others? You blew up a reef and trapped fish to create your tank. Of a 100 customer that buys fish and coral, how many do you think will successfully keep EVERYTHING they bough alive. You're in a business where you depend on the failure of hobbist to survive.
Ignorance doesn't give you inncocence I agree, but what am I guilty of? what law is being broken when rhizo are own and sold AFTER it clears customs?
This conversation started off with corals we love, not some ridiculous legality issues. FFS...
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I, personally, don't mind who owns what. If someone wants a white tiger, and have means to get and house one, go for it! That's all up to them. I doubt the govt will come knocking on the door of rhizo owners. But, if someone did get caught, I doubt the law man would accept the plea of ignorance. We should advocate, whether you practice it or not, safe/legal reef keeping. I certainly don't agree with all the things that collectors and hobbyist do.
This statement is like a fail attempt to mediate the early statement where it seems that you lump owners of rhizos with weed heads and crack heads. I still don't see where it's illegal to own. And didn't you want one a while back, and don't claim ignorance.
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Yeah, I wanted a rhizo. Too pricey and too much trouble to find IMO. If I got caught, I didn't want to pay the fines,
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I don't know the penalties, hadn't really looked em up. Jeremy might know.
I assume there is just a fine. I don't know about the whole "jail time" part.
My comment earlier was "if the government catches you, they don't care what you tell them, they'll probably crack down, no matter the reason." I don't agree with the logic behind a lot of the govt bs, but there's not much I can change about how the lawman see's things
I assume there is just a fine. I don't know about the whole "jail time" part.
My comment earlier was "if the government catches you, they don't care what you tell them, they'll probably crack down, no matter the reason." I don't agree with the logic behind a lot of the govt bs, but there's not much I can change about how the lawman see's things
I was merely trying to expound on what I've read to be illegal - which really relates to front-line measures. I have not read where possession of rhizos are, in fact, punishable by "jail time".
Unlike you, I am not addressing the morality/ethical aspect of ownership nor do I want to.
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If a rhizo is here, it was illegally permitted. This violates the Lacey act. Selling them makes it illegal.
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuslaceyact.htm">http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuslaceyact.htm</a>
Edit: $10000 fine, and up to one year in prison.
http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuslaceyact.htm">http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuslaceyact.htm</a>
Edit: $10000 fine, and up to one year in prison.
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Ignorance of the law will not get you off in this case.
Well, I disagree with parts of this statement. If you DO own an animal that has been purposefully smuggled into the US, I DO care. That is a crime we should all care about, because it is what destroys this hobby and leaves it with "black eyes".
What happens if you willfully buy stolen goods? Is that OK? That applies here, because we are attempting to buy illegally imported livestock. Claiming ignorance does excuse it. Its not about blame, its about responsibility.
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It actually is very simple. If you have purchased this coral species in exemption (from a legal source), all you need to do is provide the documentation. If it was before the law, a document stating that. If from a legal collection site- a document stating that. The problem is, from my understanding, these documents CANT exist.
FWIW, I am not criticizing anyone who may have bought these is ignorance of this. We have ALL done, or thought about doing things in this hobby, that turned out improper. However, in light of what is now fact, that these corals are likely illegally collected, and smuggled, how should we view their trade?
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