When Fishing/hiking, Do You Carry A Handgun?

[Outside Bend]

I've been a little nervous around cottonmouths, especially the breeding pair that swam across the stream to check me out a few weeks ago. But never to the point where I felt threatened by one. That's just me though.

I don't carry out on the stream, I've never really seen a need to. I've never been in a situation where I thought firing a gun was going to save my life, and I don't think I've spent much if any time wondering whether the guy up or downstream of me is packing.

But I think I get it. I have no more faith in a gun saving me than I did with the can of bear spray I lug around out west- but I'd still rather have it than not. It's a personal choice, and if carrying a gun is what you need to feel secure and at ease while enjoying the outdoors, by all means go for it. The most important thing, to me, is accepting responsibility for the choices you've made.

[MOPanfisher]

The most important thing, to me, is accepting responsibility for the choices you've made.

Quite possibly the best single sentence of the entire 17 page topic.

[Justin Spencer]

The most important thing, to me, is accepting responsibility for the choices you've made.

Quite possibly the best single sentence of the entire 17 page topic.

Not to toot my own horn

[jdmidwest]

I always thought jdmidwest might really be Todd Akin, now it's confirmed.

Does Todd fish?

[Tim Smith]

But I think I get it. I have no more faith in a gun saving me than I did with the can of bear spray I lug around out west- but I'd still rather have it than not. It's a personal choice, and if carrying a gun is what you need to feel secure and at ease while enjoying the outdoors, by all means go for it. The most important thing, to me, is accepting responsibility for the choices you've made.

Last week I jumped a black bear at 25 yards on the trail while hiking beside a father daughter pair on a state park here. I was grateful for the chance at the photo (although it was dark and he made it to dense cover before I got off the shot). The 13 year old girl's quote was "Awww...how cute." and they barely broke stride from their hike.

Also turned up a prairie rattler on the same hike. It lit out the second it saw us.

I'm definitely going to have bear mace for Yellowstone and grizzlies when I go there next. From what I hear, a handgun wouldn't help much, and ditto for the snake.

The stats on these bears don't add up to much of a threat.

I like that quote at the bottom of your post too.

[Jack Jones]

There are restrictions on the first amendment Fins. They are allowed to place reasonable restrictions as to time and place, etc. They restrict the others too. Hence, the vanishing 4th amendment.