Witnessed a terrible incident today, I need cheering up.

I am gonna have to play devil's advocate here.

I am not going to defend the person but I can certainly understand them. You see I have several family members and friends who grew up in the country or who were raised by country folk. In the country, "the only good snake is a dead snake." Sure there are exceptions to this. Some farmers understand that snakes help control rodents so they leave them be. But a lot can't tell the difference between a venomous and non-venomous snake and kill any snake to be safe.

I can pretty much guess that this person thought they were being the good guy. In their mind, by killing it they were preventing it from hurting someone else that might run across it. They were also probably wondering why you had stopped to let it cross and think of you in negative ways.

Generally, these type people aren"t stupid or mean. They just don't know any better because of how they were raised and what they were taught.

I guess it depends on your definition of stupid. Ignorant is ignorant no matter how you cut it....and there is plenty of it here in GA...

well no matter the reason behind the killing it will be considered a senseless act of cruelty to most if not all animal lovers.
unfortunately my dad is one who goes with that "a good snake is a dead snake" thing but he knows better then to say stuff like that to or around me cuz i'm a major animal lover. the only snake he will flat out kill without so much as a second thought are the rattlers he encounters at the house. he kills them cuz they've wandered too close to our home and he didnt want to chance one of us accidently stepping on one and now continues his protective vigil for my nieces who are usually there. he doesnt go out to hunt them he just kills them when he discovers them, which is usually by him almost stepping on them himself, go figure.
so anyways, to the op - i'm sorry you had to witness that and i'm with you on hoping the poor thing passed on quickly.

As I always say "99% of all people are idiots", and I guess the rest of us are on bp.net - herpers:)