Okay, my experience is as follows:
5 years of hands on training with some of the states top herpeculturists in order to obtain my VRC plus several years after that once I obtained the permit.
I was the youngest person in my state to ever receive a VRC permit
I worked as the assistant curator of natural sciences in a museum for several years
I worked as a zookeeper at the Santa Fe zoo in Florida
I am currently studying herpeteculture which I hope to continue into a doctoral degree
I am working on a book on properly housing and maintaining venomous snakes
I am currently keeping 10 venomous snakes and a venomous lizard.
In the past I have kept or cared for over 30 different venomous species and have never once had an incident.
Now going back to that article I sent you, it is just an example of how irresponsible keepers are going to ruin the chances of much more responsible keepers getting a permit. Let's say one of these cobras turn around and bite you. You are so shocked that you drop the tail long enough for the snake to escape. You are too busy dealing with your new envenomation that the cobra slips away. While you are in the hospital now the cobra has plenty of time to explore, and let's say someone else gets bit. Don't you think that this would make the news and be fuel to those pushing to ban venomous? I know it is a hypothetical situation but given your attitude and thoughts, it is not an unlikely one.
It has been PROVEN that hatchling cobras can and will inject venom. Even if they don't do it often, it is like playing Russian roulette and there is no point. Also, ask any responsible keeper or handler if they would ever tail anything hot and under half a meter long- That is just plain stupid and will lead to bites. There is no reason you should have to tail them. Use a hook next time before you wind up dead.
