Indy,
Since you're obviously a true snake fan, let me ask your opinion on a tough issue.
Florida is having a real problem with people buying Burmese Pythons then releasing them into the wild when they get too big to manage. It's gotten so bad the snakes are now breeding in the everglades and the State of Florida is considering making it a felony to release a non-native animal into the ecosystem, and perhaps making it illegal to own exotic pythons.
What do you think?
I have to agree that some snakes don't make good pets and should be regulated. I would not ban all pythons, but there are at least four kinds of pythons and all anacondas that get so large as to be dangerous. They should not be sold as pets and only zoos shoudl be allowed to keep them.
BTW, I should point out there are a number of pythons that don't get too big and make fine pets. The children's python, ball python and jungle carpet python are fine pets, but I don't own any. In fact, the children's python is named because they make good, docile pets for children.
I might point out that large pythons have killed people and do so every year. Some wild pythons get extremely large and some pets will attack their owners by mistake. I point this out only because no boa has ever done so. Did I mention I have a boa? She's as tame as a puppy and very docile unless I am in the room. The funny thing is, if I am in the room, she'll squirm like crazy until I hold her. Then she will calm down. That boa plays favorites!