Actually a firearm almost always operates exactly the way it was intended to (I've never seen a firearm go off by itself). If there are any unintended consequences with firearm usage, its because of user error.
I'd like to know where you are getting these statics from. And last time I checked, hunters don't go hunting bears with mace or pepper spray, but with firearms....obviously one tool is more lethal than the other.
Just because you've never heard of a case where bear spray failed doesn't mean it never does...that's a false logic you are using. Incidentally, I provided an example of where I deployed bear spray, but a bear proceeded to ignore it, charge me and steal me food bag.
Grizzly bear attacks are rare for the average person only because the average person doesn't live or go near Grizzly habitat. For hikers and people who live in those regions, the possibility of attack is much greater than say someone living in NYC. Also, the consequences of suffering an attack are extreme and potentially deadly. That's why I'd rather not rely on statistics when I'm in Grizzly country; I'd rather rely on preparation and having the right tools.
The relevant question is how many times has that happened? And where are the examples of this? Do you have any links you can share?
I think a lot of people, like you, are inclined to perpetuate and exaggerate these stories to the point where they become the new baseline for what is normal. The reality is, if the average grizzly bear even hears a firearm discharge, he/she will likely evacuate the area in a very quick fashion...or if it should escalate into a deadly confrontation, most bears will cease their aggression after receiving a few shots from even a small caliber like 9mm....believe it or not, 9mm is very painful when it enters your body and is well capable of penetrating through the vital organs of most animals.
In fact, to dispell some of these rumors you seem so fond of perpetuating, here are 2 examples of hunters scaring off charging bears with gunshots alone:
How many is "plenty"? Are you simply retelling an editorial piece by USA Today or have you actually researched this topic?
People do hurt themselves with firearms. A firearm is not inherently dangerous or evil; it is simply a tool. It's safety and effectiveness relies totally on the responsibility of the user. People also do hurt themselves with alcohol and cars (hundreds of thousands are wounded and tens of thousands are killed every year in drunk driving accidents). That doesn't make either a car or alcohol any more dangerous in my eyes...it just means that they need to be used responsibly.
In the end, the danger from any sort of injury, whether it be hypothermia, dehydration, physical assault from a criminal or a deadly encounter with an apex predator, is greatly exacerbated due to the fact that there is normally very little in the way of help or aid. Whenever I go into the wild, I don't start acting paranoid and look over my shoulder every few seconds for the next "ambush" or "surprise attack." But I do plan on being self-sufficient should I encounter an emergency (plan for the worst, hope for the best). IMO, carrying a firearm gives you the opportunity to diffuse what would otherwise become deadly situations; and in the event that they do become deadly, firearms are a last resort for defending yourself. It's one of many tools that I believe in having on my person when I am out in the wild. It's an approach that many other people have adopted.
Just because you don't agree with that approach, doesn't mean it's inherently wrong or stupid.
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