Should snake-handling be legal?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_handling

West Virginia is the only state where it is.

I vote no. One of the few things I'll applaud Kentucky for is cracking down on these nutjobs, even to the point of having undercover police go to their services and then call up for backup to arrest if snake handling starts.

[dead0man]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

[Sbane]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

[MK]

 Some cling to their snakes, Bibles and guns. LOL

[Matt Damon™]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

[minionofmidas]

While I do not share their predilections, I applaud their fight for freedom.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

Children have been harmed at these services before.

[Matt Damon™]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

Children have been harmed at these services before.

first amendment

ever heard of it?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

Children have been harmed at these services before.

first amendment

ever heard of it?

Well if the First Amendment protects this it must also protect Muslim "honor killings" and genital mutilation too. Plus parents have been arrested and convicted for refusing to give their children medical treatment for religious reasons resulting in the death of their child and this is rather similar. The First Amendment does not mean you can abuse your kid in any way as long as your religion supposedly justifies it.

[Earth]

Legal. I don't consider it anyone else's business (freedom of religion, or an aspect involving it), especially not the state.

[Matt Damon™]

Legal. I don't consider it anyone else's business (freedom of religion, or an aspect involving it), especially not the state.

[Alcon]

Same as any other perilous situation.  Bring kids into it, custodial endangerment charges.  Otherwise get bitten as much as you damn well want, this is America.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I don't see any reason to ban it. Obviously there are potential child-protection issues... but the same can be said of a lot of things. We mollycoddle our bairns too much these days. Let them experience the wide, wild world. Let them play outside. Let them play with sticks. Let them join in traditional folk religious ceremonies involving snakes. Let's face it; it's better for them than being cooped up indoors all day watching the telly, playing computer games and eating processed food.

[Matt Damon™]

I don't see any reason to ban it. Obviously there are potential child-protection issues... but the same can be said of a lot of things. We mollycoddle our bairns too much these days. Let them experience the wide, wild world. Let them play outside. Let them play with sticks. Let them join in traditional folk religious ceremonies involving snakes. Let's face it; it's better for them than being cooped up indoors all day watching the telly, playing computer games and eating processed food.

[SPC]

Why should it be illegal?  Are they harming people that don't want to be harmed?

[Stranger in a strange land]

yes, but only if it's done by trained professionals.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

yes, but only if it's done by trained professionals.

So in other words not some unordained fire and brimstone preacher in podunk Appalachia.

[Alcon]

yes, but only if it's done by trained professionals.

So in other words not some unordained fire and brimstone preacher in podunk Appalachia.

Why shouldn't people be able to risk their well-being if they consent?

They can do it in non-religious matters.

[Meeker]

I was under the impression that part of the issue was abuse and neglect of the snakes in between rituals.

[minionofmidas]

yes, but only if it's done by trained professionals.

So in other words not some unordained fire and brimstone preacher in podunk Appalachia.

Uh... these guys have a lot of experience handling snakes.

I think the occasionally fatalities-inducing part of Full Gospel services is the poison-drinking part anyhow, not the serpent-handling.

[John Dibble]

Same as any other perilous situation.  Bring kids into it, custodial endangerment charges.  Otherwise get bitten as much as you damn well want, this is America.

This is reasonable. If someone is stupid enough to do this, gets bitten and dies, then all I can say is that I'm glad they are out of the gene pool. However, if you bring someone else who isn't old enough to make the choice into this it's another matter.

[opebo]

While I do not share their predilections, I applaud their fight for freedom.

Thanks dude.  But I suppose the issue of consent comes up when the snake is 'handled' just like when the little kid is 'handled'...

I wonder why some people assume being 'handled' is so harmful for humans and not snakes... it probably upsets the snakes a lot.

[Eraserhead]

Just make Christianity illegal.

[phk]

yes, but only if it's done by trained professionals.