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The Constitution Protects My Snake-Handling (Op-Ed by snake handler who just died by snakebite)
Wall Street Journal ^ | 10/3/13 | Jamie Coots

Posted on 02/16/2014 5:25:58 PM PST by ifinnegan

Interesting op-Ed by the snake handler from Kentucky who was finally killed by a rattlesnake bite. It is about the constitution and freedom of religion. His name was Jamie Coots. I'd never heard of him before, but he was apparently on a National Geographic TV show for a while.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: constitution; coots; religion; snakehandling
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As an aside w/regard to the oh-so-clever wags making Darwin award comments, Coots had adult children.

Darwin award jokers don't even understand Darwinism.

1 posted on 02/16/2014 5:25:58 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: ifinnegan

Yes, the Constitution protects your religious right to do stupid things such as handling poisonous snake, but that doesn’t make it a good idea.


2 posted on 02/16/2014 5:28:17 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: ifinnegan
He's correct. A man should be free to screw up his life however he wants, so long as no-one else has to pay for it.

/johnny

3 posted on 02/16/2014 5:28:44 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

“1Cor 10:9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;”


4 posted on 02/16/2014 5:30:59 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: ifinnegan

I’m not sure snake handling is biblically sound practice. Walking around with deadly snakes strikes me as trying to force Jesus to save you. It seems a lot like the devil tempting Jesus to jump off a temple and force God to save him.


5 posted on 02/16/2014 5:39:10 PM PST by RightOnTheBorder
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To: ifinnegan

You mess with the snake you get the fangs.


6 posted on 02/16/2014 5:41:34 PM PST by MAKOTHEDOG
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To: JRandomFreeper

If murder is constitutionally protected, (infanticide) then self murder (suicide) must also be protected.


7 posted on 02/16/2014 5:42:36 PM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: RightOnTheBorder

That is my take.


8 posted on 02/16/2014 5:46:16 PM PST by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's Economics In One Lesson ONLINEhttp://steshaw.org/economics-in-one-lesson/)
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To: ifinnegan

There is nothing of what that man did that should be protected. A civilized society would have shut them down, enforced the laws currently on the books of the state of KY prohibiting the use of reptiles in a religious service, and incarcerated anyone caught taking kids to such services on child abuse charges.


9 posted on 02/16/2014 5:50:00 PM PST by wonkowasright (Wonko from outside the asylum)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Agreed...Neither the public nor his minor children should have to pay a price for his beliefs and that’s where some faith healers take it too far in denying medical care for those minors.


10 posted on 02/16/2014 5:52:32 PM PST by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: ifinnegan

OK.. He had adult children.. wouldn’t he have been wise to take that into consideration before engage in such idiocy?


11 posted on 02/16/2014 5:55:53 PM PST by ScottinVA (Obama is so far in over his head, even his ears are beneath the water level.)
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To: knarf

At least he didn’t take a bus load of people, or
a pizza parlor full of teenagers with him in his
quest for god.


12 posted on 02/16/2014 5:59:53 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: ifinnegan

There’s Laws of Man, and there’s Laws of Nature.

One group you may be able to get away with violating, one you can’t.


13 posted on 02/16/2014 6:00:53 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: RightOnTheBorder

You’re correct. It’s a misapplication of Jesus’ words.


14 posted on 02/16/2014 6:03:05 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: wonkowasright

“There is nothing of what that man did that should be protected. A civilized society would have shut them down...”

I think you have a valid viewpoint.

But then, where does it end?

For example, shouldn’t partaking in extreme sports be shut down over the same concerns for safety?


15 posted on 02/16/2014 6:04:51 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: wonkowasright

What business does the state of KY have attempting to criminalize behavior you or I view as stupid (and which is in fact pretty dumb)? What activity is there that they may not ban?


16 posted on 02/16/2014 6:07:00 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: ifinnegan

aftermath of an early snake bite suffered by Pastor Jamie Coots: in accordance with his beliefs, he did not seek medical attention for the bite, and lost part of his finger as a result

http://cdn.previously.tv/m/2013-09-10-snake-salvation2.jpg

http://previously.tv/snake-salvation/snake-handling-great-can-downside/


17 posted on 02/16/2014 6:08:04 PM PST by kcvl
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To: ifinnegan

Ummmm,
Stupid should hurt?


18 posted on 02/16/2014 6:08:20 PM PST by sasquatch
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To: ScottinVA

“OK.. He had adult children.. wouldn’t he have been wise to take that into consideration before engage in such idiocy?”

I agree. (Although his Father and Grandfather did it and I think his adult son does it).

But, the comment about winning the Darwin Award - that he doesn’t actually qualify — has nothing to do with your moral and ethical consideration that I agree with. Separate issue.

My comment is that people screaming Darwin Award don’t even understand it. It’s really just an aside in response to yahoos making ignorant comments.


19 posted on 02/16/2014 6:08:40 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: JRandomFreeper
Yep.

He paid in full for his belief system however screwy.

He tosses the rattler at me that is something different.

But as far as I can tell he never tried to force someone else to do it.

He did it for religion, Steve Irwin did it for fun and knowledge. In both cases none of my beeswax.

20 posted on 02/16/2014 6:12:20 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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