Firstly I am a Canadian, not a FORMER Canadian. In fact, since I joined FR, I have explained my handle three or four times. I shan't today. I think my 'About' page is fairly clear on that subject.
Secondly, I am not 'anti' gun. Frankly, I don't care one way or the other about your laws. If your various States and Counties wish to legislate the population to carry a .45 automatic, a .38 police special, a shotgun and an AR-15, more power to them! (Just give me a heads up so I can buy futures in the manufacturers' shares!). The majority of Canadians, especially those whose roots go back to United Empire Loyalist (UEL) times, were not brought up in a gun culture that is the US. Before your head explodes, let me unpack that for you.
The US was founded in bloodshed, through a violent revolution and a healthy distrust of those in authority, figuring that if everyone is armed, no one can usurp power. Less than 40 years later, the US tried to invade Canada, failed and Washington was torched. With Napoleon defeated, and Britain free to fight fully in North America, the US sued for peace, a stalemate. It then warred against Mexico (American immigrants in Texas rebelled against the country that let them settle, declaring their own country and then joining the US). A few years later, over 600,000 Americans killed each other in the civil war. Then the US went to war against the Indians (or Natives, or First Nations, whatever the current phrase is), breaking treaties and driving them onto reservations, those who weren't killed. Let's not forget all the gunplay and lawlessness in the mid-West! Much of all this due to the Democraptic Party's concept of 'Manifest Destiny. (I have not even touched on the war against Spain, as my focus is on the fundamental differences in the founding of the two countries.)
Canada grew from a majority Quebec French country ruled by British, into a mix of both English and Quebec French, with the massive exodus of UELs who had chosen to abide by George III rather than that other George fellow (Washington was his name, I believe). They, included my ancestors from Virginia, who were punted, lost everything, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Aside from UEL civilians, many British soldiers and sailors who fought in the Revolutionary War settled in Canada. Less than 30 years after the Treaty was signed, the Americans tried to invade Upper Canada three or four times and failed and tried to invade Lower Canada (Quebec) several times and failed. In return for burning York (now Toronto), the Provincial capital of Upper Canada, Washington was put to the torch. Canadian militia supplemented by some British regulars and Natives, defeated US Army regulars. That was the last war against Canada by the US however, it was FAR from the last war in North America by the US.
After things returned to normal, the US continued its wars against the Indians, American immigrants to Mexico rebelled against their hosts, declaring a republic which then became the State of Texas, then America decided to turn on itself, killing over 600,000 fellow countrymen. Meanwhile, north of the border, Canada prospered through trade and agriculture and peace treaties with Natives that were KEPT, so there was no war. Canadians also saw, with growing concern, the mostly Democraptic Party concept of 'Manifest Destiny'. Fear of invasion by a battle hardened, blood thirsty and well equipped US Army, spurred on by 'Manifest Destiny', led to the formation of Canada, as the colonies of Upper Canada (Ontario), Lower Canada (Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick united for a common defence. Unlike the US, founded on a distrust of government, Canada was founded upon the concept of 'responsible government', where the government and its ministers were responsible to an elected House of Commons and an appointed Senate, a government that served as long as it maintained the 'confidence' of the elected Parliament. While no political system is perfect, Canada has done very well under this system, having survived 148 years so far, without a dictator or civil war.
In the latter part of the 19th century, America continued its Westward expansion through broken treaties and Indian wars. Canada expanded Westward through peace treaties and working with people to resolve problems rather than issue ultimatums at the point of a gun. Sure there was the 1870 Red River Rebellion (which resulted in one death) and the 1885 Northwest Rebellion which cost the lives of less than 90 souls, but we didn't lose a whole Cavalry Regiment, like a certain G. A. Custer did in just one afternoon. And BTW, there as no 'gunfight at the OK Corral', no Jesse James, no Younger gang, no Wyatt Earp, etc. in Canada's. There were instead, individual Mounties patrolling towns and the border, working with people rather than issuing ultimatums to keep the peace. Armed American whisky traders were quickly removed from trading with the Natives back to the border.
America was and is, a country founded on and by the threat of the gun. Canada is a country founded on good government. As such, Canadians generally, feel no need for a gun. We do not have the issues with feral youth, nor the ghettos that seem to be the source of so much trouble in the US. Guns, or handguns are very rare. Yes, "if guns are outlawed, only the outlaws have guns.", but there are so few handguns in this country, and possession laws are so stiff, that unless you are a cop or involved with criminals, you may never see a handgun in your life. In 54 years of living, other than in the holster of a cop, I've personally never seen a handgun. I don't feel my life is unfulfilled without having seen, held or fired a handgun. Of course while there are rough areas of Calgary, there is not the hatred of 'crackas' by blacks, fomented by a leader who hates his country, like you have, where I would feel I need a gun for protection. As I said earlier, my country was formed based on defence against the US, and upon good government. It has so far been successful. My concern in THIS country (Canada, BTW), is that if there were more handguns, the owners would NOT do the responsible thing and train, train, train with them. Too many armed, untrained, irresponsible gun owners (including the criminal element) partyall of a sudden firing their handguns is not a good thing. As there are so few handgun owners and such strict requirements for ownership, one can presume the owners are both responsible and well trained.
BTW, here is a newspaper article that claims that bear spray stops grizzlies better than guns.
Bear spray manufactures and anti gun and hunting types love bear spray and promote it as better.
Does it work, some times is it better depends.
No system is perfect.
So you never used or fired or handled a hand gun so you have no clue what your talking about when they come to their use.
Except what your read.
The rest of your post has nothing to do with bears or bear attacks.