[pct-l] The weapons question

Wed May 20 00:00:46 CDT 2009

I believe we can have a sober discussion of this topic if we keep to the 
question at hand and not fly off the biased handle.

As it pertains to all our public backcountry lands, what is the problem with 
weapons in the woods in responsible, law-abiding hands? They are allowed in 
the National Forest but not the National Park. If I hike with my prey 
animals, say horses or llamas, both of which are attacked by lions or 
wolves, through Inyo NF into Yosemite NP, I can defend their lives in the 
Forest with up to lethal force if need be, but have to allow them to be 
killed (and maybe myself, for that matter) in the Park because I cannot 
utilize a lethal counterforce to protect them?

I am trying to understand the reasoning. Why do we protect the lethal-force 
rights of animals who can and have killed us from time to time (not always 
provoked) while denying ourselves the same right? Yes, human-predatory 
animals need to have the ability to defend themselves unto the death of 
their attackers or to kill for food, but why, when we know that we can 
become their food, do we not allow ourselves the same defense or ability?

In 1974, Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon NP, my newly resupplied pack, my home and 
source of provision, was attacked in the middle of the night by a bear 
seeking human food. He was used to it and that was fine, but I wasn't. In 
the process of trying to retrieve it, I attempted to scare the bear off with 
whatever few means were at my disposal. Nothing worked. He just kept ripping 
it apart, disemboweling it, if you will, just 20 feet from me (say the 
length of a large car).

At one point he must have gotten fed up with my noise and antics and decided 
to rid me of his dinner environment by charging me in the dim of my 
flashlight. At that instant I did nothing. I was frozen in disbelief and 
fear. Suddenly, I was vulnerable, realizing that I could be killed or 
horribly injured. There was nothing at my disposal to use to protect my own 
life. All I wanted to do was scare him off my pack. I had no other 
intention. Yet he did. I can understand his reasoning, but I don't 
understand those that limit mine.

I survived and continued on my adventure after days of sewing and breathing 
new life into my pack, but the question still stands. Why do we deny 
ourselves the right to life and the protection thereof and that of our 
property in the face of our predators? If they are provoked, they attack; if 
I am provoked, I can not. And this is ok?

Mtnned
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Josh" <559josh at gmail.com>
To: <ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com>; "'Tortoise'" 
<Tortoise73 at charter.net>; "'Pacific Crest Trail List'" 
<pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:03 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Advocates of Gun Rights

> Sounds like Great News!  Not exactly sure how/why legislators and liberals
> are so terrified of guns in the 1st place.  It's prob just part of their
> Pansy-A$$ nature!
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com
> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 8:48 PM
> To: Tortoise; Pacific Crest Trail List
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Advocates of Gun Rights
>
> I respond to this only as it pertains to the trail.
>
> Why is this an issue if they are allowed on the rest of the land the trail
> crosses? If I were being attacked by a predator (and we do have them,
> historically), I would hope that someone would have the ability to save my
> life while protecting their own.
>
> Mtnned
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tortoise" <Tortoise73 at charter.net>
> To: "Pacific Crest Trail List" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 8:11 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Congressional Memo - Advocates of Gun Rights Are Poised 
> for
> a Victory - NYTimes.com
>
>
>> The pro-guns factions in Congress are apparently going to legislate
>> guns in National Parks.
>>
>>
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/us/politics/20cong.html?_r=1&hp
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Tortoise
>>
>> <> He who finishes last, wins! <>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Pct-l at backcountry.net
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