And This Message from the CPSC

The Cobra are Poisonous Snakes Commission reminds cobra promoters and handlers that grabbing a deadly, venomous snake by the tail can have serious consequences, as told in this Chicago Sun-Times story, courtesy of AP. As noted in the account, "Without warning, the snake bit his left hand."

In their never-ending attempt to legislate common sense, the few remaining Democrats in Congress pledged to push a bill that would outlaw warningless snake bites. "People have a right to know that they are about to die from a snakebite," said one top House Dem. Supporting the measure were members of the pro-human advocacy group, Animals for the Ethical Treatment of People. While fellow Democrats on the Hill also pushed for warning labels on lethal reptiles, House GOP member were crafting a "carry law" that would allow people to carry concealed deadly snakes for self defense purposes.

Meanwhile, a top White House official said President Bush would ask the United Nations to authorize deployment of a Poisonous Snake Inspection Team to inspect foreign countries believed to have Reptiles of Mass Destruction (RMD). Under the measure, the subject nation would have 10 days to declare the presence of RMDs and another 10 days to defang them, before UN troops and inspectors entered the country. Bush, however, is asking the UN Security Council to authorize unilateral military action by the US should poisonous snakes be located by inspectors.