“You may pray to God to remove the hills on your way and fill-in potholes on your path.
Don’t be surprised when He hands you a shovel!”
Israelmore Ayivor
Earlier this month, an Alaskan woman was out picking wild mushrooms in a remote area. She had only her two dogs with her.
She and her dogs were ambushed by a bear!
One of her dogs was severely injured by the bear, but the bear’s attention to the dog provided time for the woman to draw her Glock 9mm (exact Glock model, and brand of ammunition were not specified) and fire a single shot a the bear.
Range was two to three meters.
Where exactly the bullet struck the bear is unknown, but she describes the bear as dropping to the ground immediately.
The woman was relieved and straightaway directed her attention toward her injured dog.
After a brief delay, the bear got back up and promptly resumed his attack!
Surprised, the woman fired a second round. Again, the bear collapsed.
The woman, carrying her injured dog, then started running out of the woods and toward the trailhead and her car.
The bear got back up, once again!
Now at some distance, the woman fired a third shot. She is unsure if that round hit or not, but she never saw the bear again.
The woman was unhurt, and her injured dog survived and is recovering, albeit with some disability.
F&G eventually arrived and attempted to locate the bear, unsuccessfully. It was never seen again.
The foregoing episode had a relatively “happy ending,” but we all need to note:
1) A lethal attack is a lethal attack, be it by an animal or a (human) VCA. The attacker’s “rationale” is irrelevant and worrying about it merely squanders precious seconds. The only sensible response is a precise and deadly counter-attack, and at once!
2) Dogs are there to protect you, not the other way around. Dogs are expendable! When your dogs gallantly suffer injury or death, in your place, they’ve honorably fulfilled their mission.
3) A 9mm pistol, with high-performance ammunition, represents a reasonable choice for personal protection most places you’re likely to be, or go. Modern 9mm ammunition is designed to be effective against (human) VCAs. However, most 9mm bullets will do little more than annoy a bear!
When in “bear country,” a 44Mg revolver (with heavy, solid bullets that are designed for deep penetration) is the minimum the prudent will be carrying. Some are currently recommending a 10mm pistol for this duty. I am not among them!
In the forgoing episode, a 9mm round was somewhat effective against a bear (at least according the the woman who discharged it), but a 9mm pistol would surely not be my first choice when in “bear country”
4) Either way, multiple shots in rapid succession will most likely be necessary in order to get the attacker (man or beast) down for the count.
I know that the longer this fight goes on, the more injured I’m going to get, so when there must be a fight, I want it over and done with as quickly as possible. For sure, I don’t want to be attacked and killed by a “dead” VCA, nor animal!
5) Don’t relax too soon. Rationalization can be lethal. Don’t just “see what you think you want to see.” The VCA(s), or animal(s), get to vote too!
When your “conscious deliberation” unfailingly arrives at conclusions you already believe, you’re not “deliberating.” You’re merely rationalizing!
/John
