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it's a judgement call, but a wounded bear is one of the most dangerous creatures there is. Unless you know you can kill it with one or two shots (and most people just aren't that good a shot) you may make matters worse. Not saying don't go armed, but situational awareness is your best defense, as others have said on this thread. It's hard for me to comprehend this animal coming into an inhabited area and none of these people noticed until it was too late. I won't second guess with the limited information available, but I'd sure like to find out more about what happened here.

I've spent much time in bear country, a lot of it alone with just what I could carry on my back. I made the decision that the extra weight of a firearm wasn't worth it for the marginal increase in safety, when I could more than likely avoid any confrontation by being aware of my surroundings and taking the necessary precautions. Others won't go anywhere in bear country unarmed. It's a personal decision, but I've never felt at risk.