Tarantula Seizure and the "Panic"

Reluctantly, I'm going to give my thoughts on the recent fiasco resulting from a seizure of a particular species of tarantulas that were being imported into the US. Since this incident, I've been bombarded by emails and messages from concerned hobbyists worried that there was a ban on all Brazilian species or that the government was going to knock on their doors to seize their prized pets. In short, is it scary? Yes. Is the panic and public outcry warranted? I would say 'no', and that it could even prove to be more damaging. Here are some points for hobbyists to consider before wading into the fray.