No doubt bear spray is effective but there is always a chance the predator does not give a shit and is hungry enough to fight through it.

Do you have any evidence for that, I very much doubt it. For one it’s extremely rare that a (brown/black) bear attacks when they’re hungry. And I doubt there’s even a documented case where it continues to attack after being sprayed in the face. Keep in mind bearspray is pepper-spray on steroids.

So all you have likely done with your gun is kill an otherwise relatively peaceful animal, congratulations…

I’m not too sure on Europe’s hunting history however, a lot Canadians still hunt for meat and resources, it’s tradition to a lot of people and has been rooted into our history.

Although I’m not a big fan of hunting, I think it’s a different situation and it’s also where permits are given - after careful psychological evaluation.

Great tradition hoarding killing tools. I’m really happy I’m not contributing to this “society” of yours (that’s at least with one foot deep into fascism)… USA really managed in no time being a laughing stock to the rest of the world…

Bear spray is very effective, probably more so than a gun, if you shit your pants at least at the sight of a bear (but usually it’s the other way around too).

As a European that just shakes his head about Muricas love for kill tools, you don’t need a gun as average person. For rare cases there are strictly regulated permits. But otherwise I’m very glad that I don’t have to fear being shot by MAGAts. Or have basically no school-shooting etc. I sometimes think you’re stuck in the middle age or wild western or something like that…