http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3449692&page=1 Pretty messed up. I've been around snakes all my life and I have never once encountered a situation where it would be neccessary to shoot one out of a tree. Especially with a sidearm. What kind of idiot would fire into a tree without checking down range? This cop should go away for a very very long time.
Manslaughter or Negligent Homicide charges oughta be brought on that policeman. I don't see how the snake was any kind of "immediate threat" that the cop had to take out with his pistol.
I'm a bad person. I saw this story this morning and wondered if Elwood had something to tell us... Seriously, a lot of people in the US seem to have an absolute loathing of snakes - which I can understand, given the existence of venomous snakes over there - and don't act rationally as a result. Not defending the cops in this case, but I wouldn't mind betting that's what happened...
Or, if the snake was on a lower branch (which is why it was such a "threat", I assume ) one of these: In my life I've killed a couple dozen snakes with one.
Do we even know what kind of snake it was? If not poisonous, they should have left it the fuck alone.
Shit. I can only imagine what the family is going through, and the guilt the grandfather feels. I saw him on TV, he look devastated. Back when I lived in Wilcox (AZ) I had to shoot a couple of rattlesnakes (on two separate occasions, not at the same time) because my dogs pissed them off and they were coming right at us. Don't piss off rattlesnakes, they get mean, and persistent. I had to treat a couple of dogs with some "combiotic" stuff after they were bit. But most snakes won't bother you, if you don't bother them. My son may even get a pet corn snake for his B'day.
Typical, cops never want to admit wrongdoing. He should recive serious time for his actions and lack of compasion.
If I see a copperhead or rattler around the house and can get to my shotgun, the little sumbitch is dead.
This is another thing that bothers me. The snake was certainly not venemous. The next time I see a rattlesnake hanging out in a tree will be the first. I don't even know why the cops showed up. If I got a call from someone telling me they had a rattlesnake up in a tree my response would be "No you don't, now quit being a pussy". Basically a kid died because some dumb shit cop fired a pistol at a harmless rat snake. As far as rattlers chasing people, I've never seen or heard of this happening. And I've seen some pretty pissed off rattlers. If you thought a snake was chasing you, then it was a combination of a confused snake and your imagination.
You don't need a shotgun if you're a good shot (which this officer obviously wasn't!). We once found a blacksnake swimming in our pond. Dad got his old .22 short single-shot Remington that used to be his grandfather's and had a short "youth" stock that was too small for anyone over 10 years old. He tracked the snake for a few seconds, getting the timing on its head, which was whipping side-to-side like crazy as it swam. Then at about 50 feet, he popped a round right thru its head. Still the most amazing shot I've ever seen in person.
I've never seen a rattle snake in a tree but I have been chased by one. It struck at me three times (thank god I was wearing snake boots) and chased me without ever rattling. But, I have seen tons of water moccasins in trees and I've been chased by a few.
I can believe a cotton mouth would chase cause they are curious and fearless. However, are you sure you saw them in trees? These are short, thick bodied snakes that are ill suited for climbing. I wonder because that snake is probably the most misidentified snake in the US. I grew up along the bayous and I've never seen one climb anything higher than a log. Either way, the snake involved in this shooting was a rat snake. Non-venemous and totally harmless.
Bit it would be harder with a pistola. Shotgun is much more effective and the worst that would happen downstream would be to rain down a little shot on someone.
I have no doubt, but are you sure it was a cotton mouth? All snakes can swim, and there are a ton of water snakes that people call "water moccassins" that are in reality completely harmless.
How does one find oneself chased by a snake? I've come across many snakes, poisonous and not, and they either don't seem to take notice of me or they skedaddle almost before I can spot them.
Stupid to shoot at a snake in a tree, considering it would go through the snake and come down somewhere. It was probably a really small chance of it actually hitting someone, but you never know so you have to be careful when using your weapon. I heard it ricocheted off of something before actually hitting the kid square in the forehead. Poor family and community.
Ever here of a black racer? If you piss one off or it thinks its cornered, it gets real agrressive and can chase you. One of them chased my uncle a looong way all the way back to his house. They eventually shot it several times and killed it but he said it is one thing to know a snake can strike at you but to have a snake chase you and run you down and strike and bite at you several times is quite another.
I've seen black racers. They are are nonvenomous and like most things will leave you alone if you leave them alone. Sure, they can still bite, but it's not worth getting all panicked and scaring yourself and the snake even more.
