Another senseless child killing

[northcreek2624]

Today a five month old baby was killed by a Black bear in my home state,New York,the parents were powerless to do anything.
Since Iam legally registered to carry a concealed weapon I often question the wisdom of our law makers who will not allow us to take these weapons into parks or across state lines where we might encounter a predator be it animal or human and pay the ultimate price.
Most of us will come out second best if asked to defend against a bear,pit bull or 250 pound crackhead.
It is an outrage that a baby has to die when we have the technology to discourage any would be attacker.
Sure it's a rare occurence,but if it's your child,wife or you that's not rare enough.

In this day and age I refuse to become a member of the food chain.
This childs death should never have happened........Mike

 

[chim]

Check this. It was posted on another forum I haunt. I agree with another poster who would trade the shotgun-throwing buddy for someone who would use it properly (shoot the thing, don't throw it at the target,,,,,,sheesh)................chim

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/1618619p-1736211c.html>http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/1618619p-1736211c.html</A>

 

[looch]

Senseless indeed. Senseless for anyone to go somewhere unarmed where they are not at the top of the food chain - vicious dogs (not pitbulls) and crackheads excluded.

 

[JoeR]

As a parent, I could not imagine the helpless feeling the parents had as they had to watch their child attacked.

Very sad!

Although, I am gald that I too carry a weapon and would at least have died trying to stop the attack
Joe

 

[patrickg]

There are documented cases where bears in no-guns-allowed parks have been disuaded from attacking humans by someone illegally carrying an otherwise legal firearm because they just don't go places unarmed. Due to a software calamity for which my new ISP has apologized, making it all so very much better, the URL saved as a bookmark has been irretrievably lost and I can't supply the reference.

I for one think not being able to carry a concealed firearm just about anyplace is a bad idea. Why give bad guys a safe haven. Why suffer animal attacks. Why not make a terrorist (animal or human) subject to harm as required to protect yourself and others from unwaranted attack.

Not to go too far afield for too long but... If the majority of law abiding citizens were armed and trained to use a weapon safely it would make dog attacks, bear attacks, or and street crime more hazordous for the bad guys and less so for the good guys.

Any dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists want to step forward and debate the rights and wrongs of shooting a bear to save a child. Is it nature's way? Part of the great circle of life?

They were visiting a PARK designated for human recreation NOT a travel-at-your-own-risk wild animal preserve. As land use tightens and wild acreages are reduced we are going to see an increase in animal/human interaction. Stand by, as rare as you might think this interation was, bear encounters and similar encounters with mountain lions is on a rapid increase.

Patrick

 

[looch]

<font color=blue>Any dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists want to step forward and debate...</font color=blue>

Sounds to me like you're pretty handy with a fishin' pole too.

 

[butzkeg]

Well said patrickg. There isn't an animal on this planet whose life should be of more or equal value than a human's. Period.

Unfortunately, I'm guessing there aren't many "dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists" that own tractors and/or visit TBN. It would be an interesting to see someone try to debate your statement though.

 

[looch]

I believe in self defense, but I disagree with your assessment of the value of a human life.

The pole position is earned, not granted. Choosing to frequent the habitat of wild animals without some form of personal protection is either ignorant or arrogant.

 

[MDNY]

This thread was started to discuss the tragic loss of a 5 month old child and I wish as well that the parents too could have stopped the attack either by killing bear if necessary.

While I am not a "dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists" and I was not present at the incident on the posted link I am concerned with how we regard the lives of other creatures on this planet.

My question is when did another beings life (be it a bear, coyote, deer) become less important or valuable as a humans. Imagine if you will that animals could hunt us, what then?

The bear mentioned in the link was protecting its cub, much like we would protect our child from a predator, someone who would do our child harm (or us too). The bear followed what is normal in nature, they eat there, sleep there, play there and get murdered and hunted there.

I am not anti gun or fishing or outdoor lifestyle, what I am is for recognizing that before we were here other creatures were. Before we say its our land to fish on, the bears were doing it first. I guess I feel that if you are going to be out in the wilderness of Alaska you recognize that there are allot of bears there and encounters are likely.

Imagine that guy using full metal jacket to "defend" himself in a residential setting. Will that bullet stop in the 250lb crack addict or will it continue through his body into an innocent person?

I am not posting this to create controversy, but I bought my land with the intent of protecting the animals that come on it and live on it. If for some reason an animal attacks my family I will defend my family and stop the attack, killing the animal if necessary. If I see someone hunting an animal on my property (clearly posted with no trepassing/hunting) I will defend the animal (as my family too).

What really scares me is hunting season this year near my new home. The law states you cannot shoot a gun in (NY State within 500ft, maybe 750FT) of a residence. Too bad bullets cant tell distance. If someone decides to hunt on the open land next to me I could get killed, have damage to my home or injury to family and friends. Oh and I can't enjoy the outdoors to due people who can't handle firemarms and alcohol let alone read.

Thanks for your time, understanding and consideration of my post.

 

[dgood1]

MDNY,

"The bear mentioned in the link was protecting its cub, much like we would protect our child from a predator, someone who would do our child harm (or us too). "

I don't understand how a 5 month old child was a threat to the bear or cub? Untill your post I hadn't heard of any cub being involved.

If what I heard in the news was correct, this incident occured in a subdivision with many houses in close proximity. I am not one to take all that the news presents as being unbiased. I would be interested in your source of information.