Religious snake-handlers busted in Kentucky

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[size=150]Religious snake-handlers busted in Kentucky[/size]
[i]Pastor among 10 people arr ested in crackdown on venomous snake trade[/i]

July 12, 2008

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The pastor of a Kentucky church that handles snakes in religious rites was among 10 people arrested by wildlife officers in a crackdown on the venomous snake trade.

More than 100 snakes, many of them deadly, were confiscated in the undercover sting after Thursday's arrests, said Col. Bob Milligan, director of law enforcement for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Most were taken from the Middlesboro home of Gregory James Coots, including 42 copperheads, 11 timber rattlesnakes, three cottonmouth water moccasins, a western diamondback rattlesnake, two cobras and a puff adder.

Handling snakes is practiced in a handful of fundamentalist churches across Appalachia, based on the interpretation of Bible verses saying true believers can take up serpents without being harmed. The practice is illegal in most states, including Kentucky.

Coots, 36, is pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro, where a Tennessee woman died after being bitten by a rattlesnake during a service in 1995. Her husband died three years later when he was bitten by a snake in northeastern Alabama. Coots was charged Thursday with buying, selling and possessing illegal reptiles. He had no listed telephone number and couldn't be reached for comment. There was no phone listing for the church.

"It is disturbing to me that individuals would keep such dangerous wildlife in their homes and in neighborhoods where they put their families, visitors and neighbors at such high risk," Milligan said. The snakes, plus one alligator, were turned over to the nonprofit Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade. Most appeared to have been captured from the wild, with some imported from Asia and Africa.

Zoo Director Jim Harrison said some of the animals would likely have become exotic pets had they not been seized. "There's been a large trade in exotics for years," he said. "Some people are just fascinated with them."

Undercover officers purchased more than 200 illegal reptiles during the investigation, some of which were advertised for sale on Web sites. One such Web site lists copperheads for $50 each and cobras for $450. "You can purchase anything off the Internet except common sense," Harrison said. "A venomous snake isn't a pet. You don't play with it. If you do, you're an idiot."

[John81]

There go those "Fundamentalists" again! :roll

[JerryNumbers]

Surely some one will say, the government should not infringe on their religious beliefs, freedoms, and let the play with these snakes all they want to.

[deputydog530]

Not me. Stupid is, is stupid does!

[John81]

Surely some one will say' date=' the government should not infringe on their religious beliefs, freedoms, and let the play with these snakes all they want to.[/quote']

Actually, I do believe they should have the freedom to do this so long as they keep the snakes in a manner that they can't be a danger to others.

If they want to play with deadly snakes, that's their business.

[JerryNumbers]

I suppose the only reason they bothered them was because of venomous snake trade. Other wise they woudl have probably left the alone.

Perhaps they do this in order to sell their snakes. Do you suppose its a money making racket?

[tired]

I don't care how much money you can make off snakes. Count me out. I would rather be dirt poor. :lol

[John81]

It seems there is a huge black market for venomous and exotic snakes. They can have 'em!