DB's on The Firing Line (unarmed)
Hello Firing Line,
My name is Pat. I live in Montana. I'm not a gun enthusiast. I respect guns, I have owned one or two (by way of hand me down) but I'm just not a gun person. I used to carry a big sidearm while walking in a particular area here as a "peace of mind" for Grizzly encounters. I walk out in the woods almost everyday. After several years of doing so; I got in in my head that it was only a matter of time until I met up with a bad bear and I didn't want to be empty handed when that time came. So I borrowed a Ruger .44 (blackhawk?) from a buddy and carried it for one bear season. Then my buddy took the Ruger back and gave me a S&W 500 snub nose pack gun to use. I carried that for a little while and then that gun too went away so I started shopping around for my own gun. I applied for a license and went to a couple stores but I just couldn't find a gun that I felt I had to have so I bought the biggest can of pepper spray on the market (made right here in montana). Most experts say you are more likely to deter a bear attack with pepper spray anyway. Well, a few days after purchasing the pepper spray, I was heading up my favorite trail and I decided I would practice drawing out my spray weapon and try to get the feel of it. You know, draw it out, practice taking the safety off, see how long that takes ... you see where this is heading right? On about the third go, I drew out the canister, thumbed the safety off and BLAMO- maced myself- right in the face- direct hit- gassed my hair back- face completely orange. Thought I was going to die- for sure. I, somehow, managed to get back to my car and drove down the canyon, back to my house- screaming in pain- almost blind. During the excruciating 15 minutes that took- I managed to call 911. A sheriff's deputy met me at my house and walked me through the dish detergent wash off and rinse procedure and then, an hour or so later, I was 100% OK. My face just felt a little hot like a sunburn. My take away on that deal was- no guns for the kid. Having said that- I still like guns but just not in my hands- you know what I mean?
