Scam or not

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Two points. One, if it is a sting, thats entrapment of sorts and, with the miniscule funding these departments are getting, I doubt they'd go as far as to place an add to retrieve a few convictions. Secondly, where I live asian aro's are illegal. When I was talking to my lfs owner his remark was,"When do you want it?" Basically claiming that shipments are not closely checked and packages are easily mislabeled. So, could be one or the other.
 
Oh yea many of the stores here dont mind getting u anything illegal. they really dont care. and ive seen a particular chain store here often have tilapias for sale with their feeders. they charge u a dollar for them some other stores that get them in by accident too with feeders will willingly sell one to u. they usually tell me it depends on the wholesalers and what mood theyre in. if fwc hasnt been checking in lately they will sell them rays and stuff. atlantic rays are sold here also in every corner. and motoros every once in a while.
 
1) It's probably a scam.

2) Every time this kind of thing comes up there are people who suggest that there is some kind of reasonable possibility that a collector attempting to obtain a single specimen that's already inside the country is going to go to jail. I haven't been able to find any cases where anyone who wasn't involved in smuggling these things has been prosecuted. The only case that I've been able to uncover where someone was actually sentenced to jail time was a guy who had already been busted for smuggling (and paid an $850 fine, which is chump change when you think about how much asian aros go for). Admittedly, I haven't looked that hard for info, so if anyone knows of any other cases, let me know.

3) This is a stupid law. If the wild-caught fish is endangered, a ban on captive-bred fish doesn't make any sense at all. I understand if you don't want to take the risk of owning an illegal fish (I personally don't own any) but it's not some kind of virtue to obey a stupid law. It doesn't make you a responsible citizen, just as breaking the law doesn't in and of itself make you an irresponsible citizen. Nor will your compliance or noncompliance have any impact on the repeal of that law. The reason that asian aros are still illegal is that Congress is good at passing laws, but there's no motivation whatsoever for a given congressman to expend time and political capital on repealing a law like this. So if you want an asian aro and can get one, don't feel bad about breaking it.

4) That being said, I'll say again that this is probably a scam.
 
Westie said:
Two points. One, if it is a sting, thats entrapment of sorts and, with the miniscule funding these departments are getting, I doubt they'd go as far as to place an add to retrieve a few convictions. Secondly, where I live asian aro's are illegal. When I was talking to my lfs owner his remark was,"When do you want it?" Basically claiming that shipments are not closely checked and packages are easily mislabeled. So, could be one or the other.
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I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that entrapment only applies when you are coerced or coaxed into committing a crime that you aren't otherwise predisposed to commit. So someone putting an ad up and you calling them isn't entrapment. Any attorneys can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
 
jstavis said:
This is a stupid law.........So if you want an asian aro and can get one, don't feel bad about breaking it.
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BE AFRAID... BE VERY AFRAID!! MFKers will ban you, then lock you inside a HUGE barrel of starving bedbugs. Your reputation will be shot. and IF you make it to court, you will look stupid standing there all crusty & traumatized.
 
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