Handling Gophers do not wrap around your arm like pythons or kings. They tend to pick a direction and go for it. Though they are relatively small in body mass, they are quite strong. Always support the body and give free rein to the head. If the head starts going somewhere you don't want it to go, gently guide it into another direction.
Many snakes are nervous when introduced into a new situation with new people.
Give them a couple of days to settle down before letting new people handle them. A strike is a warning that you have exceeded the bounds of what the snake will tolerate. It will shoot out, mouth open, then retract just as quickly, leaving you with a series of teeth marks. The latter can be toxic, so you must make sure that the snake's mouth is not flooded with it. Wash bites thoroughly with soap and water.