Why Are Pythons, Dangerous Snakes, Legal To Keep?

Well, let's take a look at how "dangerous" pythons are, shall we?
First of all, most python species DO NOT get large enough to pose any threat to humans whatsoever; the Australian Spotted Python, for instance, averages about 3 slender feet, about the same size as a Corn Snake.  Only a handful of species are capable of attaining a size which is capable of killing a human, out of some 46 known species.  The risk of being killed by a captive python is actually very small, especially when compared to the risk of being killed by familiar, domesticated "safe" animals, like horses, for instance.  In the entire HISTORY of the United States, there have been 12 deaths from large constricting snakes, of those, three are highly suspect by anyone who actually knows anything about these snakes.  That's 12 deaths in over 200 years.  Now, let's compare that risk to the number of deaths caused by horses, which does NOT include people who die as a result of falling off of a horse or being thrown by a horse, by the way.  The number of captive snakes, including large constrictors, currently in the US is estimated by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council at roughly 38 million, and the horse population (excluding feral horses) is pretty much the same.  Now, we have had 12 human deaths in over 200 years from constricting snakes, while we have an average of 120 humans killed PER YEAR by horses.  On average, 38 people will be killed by dogs each year in the US.  AND, let's compare the risk of python ownership with another human activity, while we're at it, to put things in perspective, and that is riding in or driving a car.  According to the Insurance Institute of America, you have a one in 17 chance of DYING in a car crash every time you hit the road, whether as a passenger or a driver, and a one in four chance of being injured in a car crash every time you hit the road.
So, do you suggest that we ban horses?  That we have all horses outlawed and killed, to protect human lives from what is statistically a very dangerous animal? How about dogs?  OR cars and other motor vehicles, do we ban those, too?
The "risk" from captive large constrictors is greatly exaggerated, mostly by the Animal Rights groups, who are seeking to ultimately outlaw owning ALL animals, and by the media, who feed on any sort of controversy.  They take advantage of the fact that so many people already fear snakes, because so many people are extremely ignorant about these reptiles, as many of the other replies in this post indicate.  Most people know very, very little about snakes in general other than wives' tales, myths and lies, so it's easy to take advantage of that fear and blow things way out of proportion in order to further a socio-political agenda that is based on emotion, not fact or logic.
I myself have kept large constricting snakes since the age of 12, and I'm past the half-century mark now, and obviously very much alive.  I've never even been seriously injured by one.  In contrast, my sister, who has horses, has been hospitalized three times with serious injuries incurred from interacting with the horses.

That is a good question. Although, I can see both sides.  On the one side, you could say people shouldn't keep dangerous animals because many of the people who do, are irresponsible and put the animal through agony and/or the rest of us in danger.  On the flip side, however, some of us are quite responsible and take all precautions to keep the animal well cared for, well trained, safely contained and well exercised (emotionally and physically). Why should responsible people pay the price for those who are not very responsible?  Predators which can easily run down a human and kill it is one thing, Most pythons are not large enough to kill humans, and certainly cannot run one down.  I could live with having to have a special license perhaps, for which I would have to take and pass, a special class showing that I could handle said animal's care and training because I am an avid animal trainer and educator. I handle and study animals, their behavior, their history, their adaptations, their anatomy, etc. But how many people out there could say that and live with such laws governing their right to own what they consider pets? I'll wager very few. Who is to define "dangerous," "pet," etc.  My weimaraner is a sweet fellow, but he will defend me if someone comes after me, or he perceives that they are going to. Some might deem that dangerous and ban me from owning him. For that matter, my cat would be dangerous to me if I were to snatch him, bare-handed, out of a cat fight. Some might deem that dangerous and ban me from owning him. No, I don't think I want to give very much power to people I don't even know saying whether my pets are dangerous and whether I am fit to own them based on what could potentially happen before it does. Would you?  So on one hand, I think, yes, ownership of wild animals should be seriously governed. On the other hand, don't forget ALL domesticated animals started as wild animals and where would we be today without them? The dog started out as the Grey wolf, the cat started out as the African Wildcat, even the chicken started out as a wild bird of Southeast Asia called "Red junglefowl," So, who's to decide what animal might be allowed to be brought into our human world? Granted reptiles don't bond, they imprint,they don't even bond with one another, therefore, would be questionable, at best, on possibility being domesticated, but what if it doesn't end with reptiles? I don't want someone I don't know (just cause he/she lives on "capital hill," and, for all I know, doesn't have any pets and doesn't appreciate them) to decide whether I should have one or which one I should be allowed to have, do you?

Pythons are just as dangerous as any other exotic animal, you have to knw what
You are doin, and fyi to the person that said they will bite you to death your a morron, pythons kill by constriction you dumb ass! Anyways go on youtube.com theres plenty of ppl that raise them n that does research on them ! I myself own ball pythons n I love them. They are very docile.