Anti-gun spin: Study claims carrying a gun in bear country doesn’t make you any safer

Bluegrass Pundit ^ | Sunday, March 11, 2012 | Bluegrass Pundit

[RitchieAprile]

Its not the bears I would be concerned with.
I carry as protection against two legged predators.

[Joe Boucher]

Carrying my Kimber keeps me safe from predators be they animal or man or gub mint.

[namvolunteer]

I dispute that Smith is a bear expert. Timothy Treadwell was a bear expert. He lived with bears. They ate him.

[Bryanw92]

I don’t carry because of bears. I carry because of zombies—leftist, criminal, probably Democrat zombies.

[True Grit]

A gun sure as hell beats a rock or stick.

[fish hawk]

You don’t need a 44 Mag or any of those large calibers. When I go to Grizzly country I take a 22 and a Liberal with me. If I encounter an angry Griz, I shoot the liberal in the knee cap with the 22 and run like hell.

[EternalVigilance]

bear spray is actually more effective against aggressive bears than a gun.

Fine. Spray 'em. Then shoot 'em. Then nuke 'em just to be sure.

[I cannot think of a name]

And as usual, the study ALWAYS covers only a fraction of the ACTUAL encounters. Why? Simple.

You are hiking through a remote area. With no warning a large bear suddenly appears. By it actions and the fact that it is charging straight at you, you know you are in immediate danger. You hand goes to your side and reaches for your trusty 629. You draw, fire twice, and the bear drops. At this point you:

a: Examine the fallen bear to make sure it is dead, find the nearest authorities so you can make a full report as well as expose yourself to any kind of bureaucratic nut that may have a problem with people defending themselves.

or

b: Get the hell out of there and say nothing to nobody.

That's why the statistics about guns being used for self defense are never correct - they are grossly under reported. Knowing the kind of problems people have gotten into by reporting their use of a gun for self defense, if you can leave quietly, who wouldn't? I would for sure.

[Jack Hammer]

More bunk from so-called scientists.

[exDemMom]

I completely agree: this study seems to have taken a predetermined conclusion and then interpreted the data in such a way as to support the conclusion. That kind of study is not scientific, but, unfortunately, shows up far too often in the scientific literature. I usually see that kind of non-science in clinical studies, where researchers set out to prove something is bad (e.g. soda), and collect their data in such a way that they can never show otherwise.

It could be that bear pepper spray would be more effective than a gun at stopping a charging bear. But supporting or refuting evidence is not contained within either of the studies mentioned in the article.

[mnehring]

There is a lot more to carrying a gun to keep you safe in bear country. How many of the instances of people using a gun but still being attacked were based on their own stupidity in not avoiding situations or poor choice in weapons such as using too small a caliber.

[max americana]

“If I encounter an angry Griz, I shoot the liberal in the knee cap with the 22 and run like hell.”

That’s a great idea. They love mother gaia’ so might as well turn them into fertilizer later..

[N. Theknow]

And where is the joke about what is the best defense against bears being pepper spray and little jingling bells?

And the way to identify bear droppings is that they smell like pepper spray and have little bells in them.

[Eldon Tyrell]

Naturalist science is dead.
This doesn’t even make any sense.
They just print these - to give their followers support.
Rational people read the fine print, realize it is a joke, and laugh at him.

The problem is - our society is chock full of idiots.

[M1903A1]

My first thought was “how threat-aware were these people?”.

Whatever you pack—pepper spray, a .44, even a bazooka—won’t help you if you’re in your own little world with your iPod or Bluetooth on, instead of being aware of your surroundings.

[Snickering Hound]

[null and void]

IOW, as long as you don’t have a pic-a-nic basket you’re safe...

[blueunicorn6]

I was out walking in the woods when I got between a grizzly sow and her cubs. She charged me. I’ve had years of martial arts training, so I screamed at her and assumed a defensive stance. She stopped about six feet away, pulled out a 38 and shot me in the leg. She said, “Take that Karate Kid!” and then she ate me.

[oldenuff2no]

I grew up in a family who ran pack strings of mules and horses.
We packed most of the time from spring thaw till the first of Dec. We worked in the Rockies most of the year and encountered black bears at least a few times a week. A black bear is a chicken $hitt and will turn and run instantly unless you are in a position of threatening cubs. I only had one incident with a black bear where I had to take defensive action.
Grizzles are very different. If see one you are already on his mountain and he isn't going to like it. The best way to handle a big shag nasty is to get out of his way before he knows you are there. If he decides he is interested it is time to grab the shotgun full of slugs, get off your horse and get ready. Bear spray works if you have nothing else but it only works at close range. My slug gun starts working well at 50 yards. If I know a big bear is coming for me waiting for him to get within bear spray range is totally stupid. Did this study note or separate the data according to what kind of bears that were encountered? If not it is skewed and worthless. Unless you are threatening a black bear sows cubs the only part of that bear you will see is his butt as he runs away. A big Grizzly will get upset that you are on his mountain and be looking to make you dinner. Get a good picture of this, they will kill you and eat you. This does not happen every time but it happens a few times every year. But at least you brought your own pepper.