more wing-nuts from the bible belt - Printable Version +- Mock (https://mockforums.net) +-- Forum: Serious Shit? (https://mockforums.net/forum-4.html) +--- Forum: Assholes In The News (https://mockforums.net/forum-10.html) +--- Thread: more wing-nuts from the bible belt (/thread-2911.html)

- Lady Cop - 07-13-2008 Snake-handling pastor arrested Story Highlights Kentucky pastor one of 10 suspects arrested in crackdown against snake trade More than 100 snakes, many deadly, confiscated from home in undercover sting Handling snakes is practiced in a handful of fundamentalist churches The practice is illegal in most states, including Kentucky FRANKFORT, Kentucky (AP)[/b] -- 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. Undercover officers purchased more than 200 illegal reptiles during the investigation, 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." - LuMPyPussy - 07-13-2008 I think they should be allowed to have them. It's just putting chlorine in the gene pool. - Maggot - 07-13-2008 I like when they stick the snake in their mouths then make the sign of the cross. - Cynical Ninja - 07-14-2008 If you play with snakes you have to expect to get bitten sometimes. I feel sorry for the welfare of the snakes but couldn't give a fuck about the gormless rednecks that handle them.