Another thing...I've been face to face with black bears many a time in the Allegheny Mts. I've had one halfway in our tent...trying to get my buddies brown paper bag full of food!
I will tell you first of all, I started arming myself. Screw the law. I would rather have a fine, than end up dead, or worse yet, watch one of my family members killed by a bear.
ON THE OTHER HAND...don't try to tell me that you need some monstrous weapon for protection. Any firearm, ANY, is better than nothing. We are not HUNTING bears, we are concerned about self-protection. BIG Difference. MOST black bears take off if they are startled...I threw rocks at one (from a very safe distance)and chased him from the campsite.
After all, we are not talking about Hollywood-sized bears...just black bears. Black bears that deserve respect.
Yes, bears are easily startled, and one can effectively employ such techniques to scare them off. But if you're going to shoot the damn thing, you better be sure that your gun has sufficient power to do the job. Because if it doesn't, and you just end up injuring (or just pissing off) the bear, you could be a dead man very quickly.
And as far as screwing the law and arming yourself, you're preachin' to the choir, buddy.