The big problem, in my opinion, is the type of government that people vote for. We now have a large percentage of people voting for people that promise to "give" them things. These people are more and more dependant on their government, and are willing to sit idly by as it goes about its business - because they want to trust that the government has their best interests in mind.
they dont' care what it does, as long as it doesnt' negativly affect them.
People should not allow it to go out of control. The voters dont' think far ahead - they vote people in that want to do this and that for them, and want them to fix this and that - but what they're doing is opening the door for more and more government "stuff". Stuff, that, down the road, even they will not like.
A little reptile ban here, a "potentially dangerous" animal ban here.... pretty soon, the presidence is set, and it opens the door for more and more oppressive bans. Government do not tend to relinquish power, and it does not tend to sit still. All it's going to do is get worse once a presidence is set.
I do not know where this ban came from, but I can guess a likely path:
Animal rights groups (PETA, HSUS) want to ban ALL pet ownership, and kill all domestic animals (This is their goal). To meet such a goal, they have to start somewhere. Reptiles, being a sub-culture, alternative "thing", feared by many (and easy to peddle to the masses as a result) are a first step.
Birds, and exotic animals are to follow, as well as dangerous dogs. We'll see more feral cat/dog laws (which should be in place anyway). They'll never get to an outright ban on animals, ever, but the closer they feel they're getting, the better for them.
These people pressure government agencies, regulatory agencies, mases of ignorant people, etc. to pass such bills for alternative reasons - "potentially dangerous animals", "exotic diseases, invasive species, threats to the very balance of nature as we kow it... They'll get the USFWS to back them on certain things, they'll get environmental groups to back them.
In the end, it'll be that a few reptile owners are not worth "the sanctity of our natural ecosystems."
It's BS, but it doesnt' matter to them.