At Camp Smith the new recruits were killing the Black and King snakes. Finally, one of the older guys says to them "What the heck are you doing? Don't you know we brought the Black and King Snakes in here because they eat the Copperheads and Rattlers" (the two poisonous ones in this area).
Some people just have an abnormal fear of snakes. When I was a kid, my friend and I often kept them as pests (Garter Snakes), so I don't have that fear. Some are good, some are bad.
I don't kill any in my garden. no doubt they are garter snakes...