So Long, Gentle Ben

In other state legislature news: In their rush to make it look like they'd actually accomplished something before the session came to a close, they started passing laws that were already on the books.

Case in point: Before adjourning Tuesday night, they made it illegal for private citizens to keep tigers, lions, monkeys, bears, Komodo dragons and a few other exotic animals as pets. People who do so could be fined up to $1000.

That gets no argument from us. But the thing is, apart from a few scattered municipalities around the state, it already was illegal to keep exotic animals as pets (the list of animals you can't own in New York City alone is lengthy and often baffling). As for those few areas where it wasn't illegal? Well, if you already own one of these creatures, the new law provides a grandfather clause—you can keep your cobra!

This law would never have been passed (for a second time) if it weren't for all the publicity the Tiger Man got. And if the legislature thinks the new law will prevent people from raising lions and tigers in their apartments, they're sorely mistaken. That old law didn't stop them before and this "new" law won't stop them either.

Who elected these people, and why are they wasting everyone's time?