I'm not afraid of snakes as such, But I wont ever hold one in my hand cause a python, like most snakes is kind of unpredictable and its dangerous if you are not a trained snake handler. If he snaps or manages to constrict you, Things might get ugly.
I've seen a wild one on the road and he was bigger than the one you are holding.( Thats the link of that story for those who missed it:
http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/f...e/2871-street-encounter-python.html#post60766 ) I kept a distance of 15 feet between him and me. Thats well out of his striking area.