Editing Snake handling in Christianity (section)

=== 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>