Editing Snake handling in Christianity (section)

== Legal issues ==

=== Legality ===
All Appalachian states except West Virginia outlawed the snake-handling ritual when it first emerged. The states of Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee have passed laws against the use of venomous snakes or other reptiles that endangers the lives of others without a permit.

The Kentucky law specifically mentions religious services; in Kentucky snake handling is a misdemeanor and punishable by a $50 to $100 fine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/26/opinion/cevallos-snake-handling-law/index.html|title=Snakes and church vs. state|first=Danny|last=Cevallos|date=26 February 2014|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

Snake handling is legal in the state of West Virginia, as the current state constitution does not allow any law to impede upon nor promote a religious practice.<ref name="Bastress">{{cite book |last=Bastress |first=Robert |title=The West Virginia Constitution: A Reference Guide |year=1995|publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, CT |pages=102–103 |isbn=0313274096}}</ref>

Snake handling was made a felony punishable by death under Georgia law in 1941, following the death of a seven-year-old from a rattlesnake bite. However, the punishment was so severe that juries would refuse to convict, and the law was repealed in 1968.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ruthven |first=Malise |title=The Divine Supermarket |publisher=Chatto & Windus |year=1989 |location=London |pages=291 |isbn=0-7011-3151-9}}</ref>

The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] has defended the religious freedom of snake handlers against various attempts to have the practice banned.{{sfnp|Burton|1993|p=}}

=== Manslaughter and murder ===
In 1992, Glenn Summerford, a serpent-handling preacher, was convicted of attempted murder of his wife with a rattlesnake, by forcing her to be bitten on two occasions, at their home.<ref name=Covington/>{{rp|30,33}}<ref name="hm">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiddenmysteries.org/religion/pentecostal/snakeskill-fool.shtml|title=Snake Kills Evangelist – HiddenMysteries Spiritual Studies|website=hiddenmysteries.org|access-date=24 April 2016|archive-date=25 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625050929/http://www.hiddenmysteries.org/religion/pentecostal/snakeskill-fool.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="history of snake handling">{{cite web |title=history of snake handling |url=http://archive.tennessean.com/interactive/article/99999999/PROMO/120601019/History-snake-handling |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806220937/http://archive.tennessean.com/interactive/article/99999999/PROMO/120601019/History-snake-handling |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2014 |website=The Tennessean |access-date=30 July 2014}}</ref> During the trial, some members of the congregation sided with Glenn Summerford, and others with his wife, Darlene.<ref name=Covington/>{{rp|48–49}} Each Summerford accused the other of infidelity, and "backsliding" from their faith by drinking alcohol.<ref name=Covington/>{{rp|41, 49}} [[Dennis Covington]], a journalist who covered the Summerford trial<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/15/us/alabama-trial-involves-snakes-and-bit-of-faith.html|title=Alabama Trial Involves Snakes And Bit of Faith|first=Dennis|last=Covington|newspaper=The New York Times |date=15 February 1992|access-date=12 September 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212215605/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/15/us/alabama-trial-involves-snakes-and-bit-of-faith.html|url-status=live}}</ref> discusses his first-hand, investigative experiences at a snake-handling church in Appalachia, in his book, ''[[Salvation on Sand Mountain]]''.<ref name=Covington/>{{rp|20}}

=== Possession and transportation of venomous snakes ===
In July 2008, ten people were arrested and 125 venomous snakes were confiscated as part of an undercover [[sting operation]] titled "Twice Shy". Pastor Gregory James Coots of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus' Name (FGTJN) in [[Middlesboro, Kentucky]], was arrested and 74 snakes seized from his home as part of the sting.<ref name="alford">{{cite news |last=Alford |first=Roger |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/11/national/a183128D08.DTL |title=Pastor among suspects in illegal snake bust |date=12 July 2008 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=12 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803025928/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2008%2F07%2F11%2Fnational%2Fa183128D08.DTL |archive-date=3 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Jamie Coots]] (son of Gregory Coots) was cited in 2013 for illegal possession and transportation of venomous snakes when three rattlesnakes and two copperheads were discovered in his vehicle during a vehicle check in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]].<ref name=knox>{{cite news |url=http://www.knoxNews.com/news/2013/feb/13/ky-pastor-wants-snakes-confiscated-in-tenn/ |title=Kentucky Pastor Wants Snakes Confiscated in Knoxville Bust |work=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] |date=13 February 2013 |access-date=13 February 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203093402/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/feb/13/ky-pastor-wants-snakes-confiscated-in-tenn/ |url-status=dead }}{{author missing|date=September 2021}}</ref> Later in 2013, Coots published an op-ed in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' making an argument for U.S. Constitutional protection regarding religious freedom, especially freedom to practice the unique variety of religion found in snake-handling churches.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coots |first=Jamie |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303796404579101831593270054 |title=The Constitution Protects My Snake-Handling |date=3 October 2013 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Coots died on 15 February 2014 from a snakebite.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2014/02/16/pastor-dies-after-snake-he-was-handling-bit-him/5529907/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140216191943/http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/2014/02/16/pastor-dies-after-snake-he-was-handling-bit-him/5529907/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2014 |title=Pastor Dies After Snake He Was Handling Bit Him |website=WBIR.com |date=16 February 2014}}{{author missing|date=September 2021}}</ref>

Andrew Hamblin, who appeared alongside Jamie Coots in ''Snake Salvation'', was cited for having dangerous wildlife in 2014, but a [[grand jury]] declined to indict him.<ref name="hamblin">{{cite web |url=http://wate.com/2014/01/08/grand-jury-declines-to-indict-campbell-county-preacher-in-snake-handling-case/ |title=Grand jury declines to indict Campbell County preacher in snake handling case |date=8 January 2014}}</ref>