Speak Out: Where do you stand on “free handling” of venomous snakes.
This subject covers a vast area handlers, from the greatly respected Bill Haast known for his free handling to the widely denounced new wave “extreme” free handlers who pick up venomous snakes as if they were ball pythons, simply for the adrenalin rush and bragging rights. We can also incorporate the religious free handlers who take a literal view of Mark 16:18. Do you personally free handle? If so, why? And if not, why? (Note: pinning the snake’s head and holding it behind the neck will not be considered free handling for the purposes of this topic.)
173 opinions on this subject.
Enter your opinion at the bottom of this page.
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Bosko on 2003-06-29
As long as there are hooks, tongs and bags with handles I can't see any good reason for picking up venomous snakes. I spend alot of time trying to educate people that snakes are not monsters and being bitten because I took a stupid, unnecessary chance would not help.
Anonymous on 2003-06-24
And as for all the pseudo posturing about the "media" "exploiting" the event of a bite, have you ever stopped to consider that 1)it IS a bit sensational when some idiot is bitten by an exotic venomous snake because they were purposely HANDLING it, and 2)if some idiot wasn't DOING something idiotic,with the predictable result, there wouldn't BE anything to "exploit"!
Anonymous on 2003-06-24
And for all of you who consider it yet another one of your "rights" to free-handle a venomous snake, I hope you have your own stocks of antivenin in case of a bite, rather than completing your self-centeredness by expecting a zoo or other facility to provide it for you, and thereby depriving people who may be LEGITIMATELY bit while trying to milk the snakes for the good of others, or an innocent person who is ACCIDENTALLY bitten through no fault of their own,such as a child bitten while playing in their own yard. Surely your irresponsibilty doesn't reach to that low level?
Anonymous on 2003-06-24
Well, it will be FASCINATING to try to figure out which person whose post I read here,who advocated free-handling of venomous snakes,with the rationalisation of" I underSTAND snakes, and I am a person with SPECIAL SENSITIVITES and can tell what a snake's MOOD is", when I read in the paper about some dummy who got bit by his "pet" cobra or whatever-the-case-may-be. Just fascinating. I'll probably even still have sympathy for you,though you brought it on yourself. Aren't there very famous and experienced handlers and herpetologists with YEARS of experience, who died from one moment of complacency? I seem to recall reading about one who got bitten by a Boomslang, and recorded his apparent lack of symptoms up to the point where he dropped dead. You'll have done it to yourselves, but I'll STILL flinch and have sorrow for you,when I read of your agonising death or disfigurement from the avoidable bite.
Anonymous on 2003-06-24
~~~Karl Betz~~just about the most intelligent and responsible and thoughtful post I've read on this entire "Speak Out" forum-if a complete ban on keeping venomous snakes is never enacted, it will be due to people like you:)
kathtus on 2003-06-22
uuuuhhhhh, I just don't.
Anonymous on 2003-06-19
hi
Anonymous on 2003-06-19
i hope you get bit in the nuts dude
Anonymous on 2003-06-19
just grow a pair and pick one up and let it go all over
Anonymous on 2003-06-19
i love free handling snakes, the rest of u r just pussies!
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