Exotic Pet Show Raid

By Julie Fox

Dear Editor, 

On September 15 my nieces attended an exotic pet show.  It was raided by federal agents, who locked down the event and held each and every person there.  The intent was allegedly to crack down on infractions of laws pertaining to exotic pet trade.  Instead of coming into the facility and checking that vendors were in compliance with the law, local and federal agents of the government terrorized individuals, innocent spectators as well as vendors, and bastardized their constitutional rights in the process.   

Ever sense the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11 of last year, we have given free rein to government to strip away our freedoms in the name of security, and been completely blind to the effects it will have on us.  Please think long and hard about the words Benjamin Franklin, one of our founding fathers and a man whom many consider to be one of great wisdom, spoke, “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” 

Think about it.  Ponder it long and hard.  One can’t take it too seriously.  We forget how important it is until it affects us.  Unfortunately, when it affects you it may be way too late for anyone to do anything about it, because you didn’t heed the words of warning the first time, or the second time, or the third or tenth time they were uttered.    By that time all of your allies will already be snatched up by the arm of the “law” as you have chosen to let it be. You chose to ignore the importance of liberty. 

Although individuals may differ, at the core there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans anymore.  No one truly cares about your freedom other than the Libertarian Party.  Look long and hard at how these parties have defended your freedoms.   The only party that truly cares about your freedom is the Libertarian Party. 

On November 5, don’t choose to ignore the ballot box because you are disgusted with the system.  Vote Libertarian.  Let’s end the madness, and put freedom back into our lives again.

 09-27-02

Julie Fox is the Fox Valley Libertarian Party Chair, Trustee at the Dundee Township Library District Board, and Former Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Illinois