Why would she say it was for snake protection if it wasn't loaded? Kind of useless at that point because no time to load it if you see the snake on your porch already...
Right, but you do see the question----why the need for a shotgun for snake protection but then allow a 4 yr old to play all alone, pretty far from the house, in a pile of dirt, where snakes and spiders would be expected to appear?
Yes, sorry, that was a mental glitch because I am also following Jack and Lily case, very similar circumstances...
Good discussion, I hear ya!
I think you might be making some assumptions about how snakes behave, including dangerous snakes such as brown snakes and dugites.
Moo people who are bitten by snakes are almost never attacked by them unprovoked. Bites usually happen on lower legs or ankles when a person accidentally steps on one or otherwise inadvertently makes contact with a snake that is laying low.. My understanding and experience is most snakes in Aust will either move away when they see, smell or hear a person approaching, or they will stay still and hidden if there isn't time ( from the snake's estimation) to move.
I have seen snakes in the wild only a handful times throughout my life despite extensive bushwalking, walking in marshy areas and walking through Sand dunes. On all but one occasion I only ever caught a glimpse of the snake from the corner of my eye as it either slithered away or remained still. I remember one time clearly as a child when I was going along a sandy dune path to a public beach and as I stepped over some dry brush on the path I saw a partially concealed snake lying very still beneath it. It didn't move and I hurried on my way!
I grew up until a tween on a 5 acre pristine bush block. We were allowed to play outside and had a great time. My parents loved us and were responsible parents, balancing our freedom to play and explore with basic instructions on what to do on the chance we ever saw a snake (I never did once on that property though I heard slithers in the bush sometimes as snakes and other critters fled on our approach).
My father told us to make noise and to stamp and watch our feet if we were romping through the bush because this scared snakes away. If we ever saw one, don't touch, back up and go another way.
Concerning the snake on Oak Park homestead porch, as a reptile a snake IMO will make its way to a porch to get some sun, more likely in September and October; but only if it senses no human (or dog) movement or presence there at the time. Jmo
Imo the incident could have easily happened like this: IIRC Ms. Bray claimed JM rounded a corner of the house with rifle in hand. Seems to me the snake had likely been on the opposite porch to the one where the surreptitious (upside down) and non-consented to footage was recorded. JM could have seen the snake sunning itself on the back porch, she gets the rifle, carrying the shells in hand. As she approaches the snake it would either have immediately slithered off the porch to seek cover, or if caught by surprise then Imo JM could have poked it while standing back with the barrel, causing snake to immediately slither off the porch. As an experienced bushy I really doubt she would have had intentions
to shoot at it on the porch itself though I guess it's possible. The rifle, even unloaded, acts as a safety guard against a snake which you are deliberately approaching. Jmo
Any number of scenarios would make sense from this point. E.g. JM may have lost sight of the snake if it made a quick get away (no need to load and shoot after all) or she may have clocked it hiding/freezing under a bush; at this point she could have heard voices (SM talking to someone ie Ms. Bray) and walked around the house to see what was what prior to loading the rifle. In that case, you can be pretty sure the snake would have been long gone by the time she returned. My point is, there's no reason to assume the rifle had to be loaded. And moo, no one needs to have made up a story about a snake Moo.
On you criticism of the grandparents' supervision as it specifically relates to snakes: I'm not sure it's warranted to be making assumptions that they were blase/ indifferent?? concerning Gus' safety! To me your post makes it sound like you believe the place was constantly teeming with aggressive, dangerous snakes. If so, that is highly unlikely to be the case IMO. Seems to me that sand pile is in shade, and it's not like a snake would be expected to approach and attack Gus as he played. Snakes will slither off as soon as they hear or smell a human approaching.
We also don't know if Gus had been given basic instructions on what to do if he saw a snake; also, on the day he went missing he was appropriately dressed in pants and boots. Given all that I think Gus was very likely quite safe from snakes playing in the sand 'like he usually did". (Per msm accounts of SAPOL updates).
*Moo spiders unlikely to be hanging in sand and like snakes will move away if they can. Redbacks hide in
dark corners not sand.
