[caveat emptor]

The team found firing a gun is no more effective in keeping people from injury or death during bear attacks than not using a firearm.

Depends on whether you kill the bear with the firearm. My son took out a grizzly that was raiding his tree-planting camp kitchen in northern BC with a shotgun. Absolutely no chance of injury or death from that bear attack. I'll go with a firearm 7 days a week.

[aviator]

Someone pointed out that all you need is a .22 pistol. Shoot your partner in the leg so that you can out-run him.