Go Where There is No Danger

[KatCAP]

I remember once someone brought up the issue of not allowing seniors carry firearms even if they are qualified (because of dangerous wildlife).

Someone responded with the comment that CAP Squadrons should not be taking anyone where there's dangerous wildlife.

Below is a picture from Billings Montana School (I believe this week):

[Storm Chaser]

Funny picture.

But just for clarification, CAP members can't carry firearms because it's prohibited by regulations unless required by law.

[KatCAP]

Funny picture.

But just for clarification, CAP members can't carry firearms because it's prohibited by regulations unless required by law.

You are correct! I was just remembering a conversation about people arguing over why Seniors should be allowed to and things went from there.

[KatCAP]

I remember once someone brought up the issue of not allowing seniors carry firearms even if they are qualified (because of dangerous wildlife).

Someone responded with the comment that CAP Squadrons should not be taking anyone where there's dangerous wildlife.

Below is a picture from Billings Montana School (I believe this week):

Here's another one near a Boise, Idaho School.

NOTE: This isn't a discussion for or against having seniors carry firearms - thats pretty clear in the regs.  It is however to ensure certain individuals understand that in the western states there are other considerations.  You just can't take cadets where there is no dangerous animals, out here you have to keep alert for them, even down town in the middle of the city.

I know Florida have the same issue with Alligators.

[Flying Pig]

Its quite amazing where you find alligators in FL.

[TarRiverRat]

We have gators in NC at the coast that loves to swim in the ocean.  Ever so often they will come up on the beach at Carolina Beach near Wilmington.  Kind of bad when you have to look out for sharks and gators too when you are swimming.

[PHall]

At Camp San Luis Obispo, CA where CAWG usually conducts their Encampments we have a number of wild animals on the post with us to include turkeys, deer, bobcats, mountain lions, skunks, wild pigs and coyotes.
And no one feels the need to be armed.   Interesting...

[LSThiker]

We have gators in NC at the coast that loves to swim in the ocean.  Ever so often they will come up on the beach at Carolina Beach near Wilmington.  Kind of bad when you have to look out for sharks and gators too when you are swimming.

That is true of most of the gulf coast states:  Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi

[abdsp51]

At Camp San Luis Obispo, CA where CAWG usually conducts their Encampments we have a number of wild animals on the post with us to include turkeys, deer, bobcats, mountain lions, skunks, wild pigs and coyotes.
And no one feels the need to be armed.   Interesting...

Most CA residents don't go messing with the wildlife.... While on vacation I came across a bobcat in the middle of the road and started snapping pics and then realized maybe it wasn't such a great idea to do so with the window rolled down just in case...

[RRLE]

I know Florida have the same issue with Alligators.

We also have a problem with bears. This October (24-30) Florida will have its first Bear Season in 21 years. The state has gone from a few hundred to over 3,000 bears in that time.

[abdsp51]

I carried in Az all the time unless I was on base or at CAP.  That was mainly due to 2 legged critters.  Though there was the dog who broke free and charged me on my way home from  the store.

[The Infamous Meerkat]

At Camp San Luis Obispo, CA where CAWG usually conducts their Encampments we have a number of wild animals on the post with us to include turkeys, deer, bobcats, mountain lions, skunks, wild pigs and coyotes.
And no one feels the need to be armed.   Interesting...

The geography of that base makes it a bit harder to surprise an animal than the remote forests in Idaho, not the same thing at all. Your comparison is very short sighted... We also have grizzly bears, grey wolves (known for sport killing), and plenty of two legged forest dwelling critters that don't want anything to do with the " The Feds" or anyone near their grow/cook sites (I'm quite sure you have your share of these as well, whether you see them or not). The two legged ones cause me the most concern, but I still remain alert and prepared for the others.

Considering the amount of recorded coyote and mountain lion attacks in your state though (many fatal), I find it curious that you say no one feels the need to carry a means to defend themselves from potentially dangerous animals or humans. For most of us in Idaho though, we still prefer fight to flight. Best of luck to you, Sir.

[Flying Pig]

At Camp San Luis Obispo, CA where CAWG usually conducts their Encampments we have a number of wild animals on the post with us to include turkeys, deer, bobcats, mountain lions, skunks, wild pigs and coyotes.
And no one feels the need to be armed.   Interesting...

The Sheriffs Office runs a youth camp during the summer up in the foothills near Fresno.  During the camp, they staff a deputy position whose job is to foot patrol with a shotgun with slugs.  I worked that detail a couple times.  And each time I worked it, I ended up with my shotgun up in my shoulder for a bear wandering the perimeter of the camp.  Interesting......  location location location.    Besides, SLO is a fairly liberal area. Those animals arent going to hurt anyone.   

[ALORD]

Actually, Camp SLO crawls with armed personnel, just none of them ( Allegedly) are CAP. There is so much noise on the base, that big game is pretty rare, and I have crawled around the wildest parts in the dead of night. I would not send a Cadet out alone at night in the remote areas ( Not simply because of the fear of the dreaded California Coastal Deer, which is slightly larger and more aggressive than the fearsome California skunk) but because of the very remote chance of a Mountain Lion, for which I have found sign. The piggies are usually not the big nasty Russian Boars, and I have never seen a bear near the camp ( Seems they don't like explosions much) In the Cadet Survival School, held on Camp SLO, we of course trained Cadets to slay anything up to a medium-sized Yeti using only a number #2 pencil. I have seen a few small Rattlers, but the only animal-related injuries I have seen there were insect bites and stings, and one gruesome tick related injury, which was treated with laughter. If someone had a gun, I am not confident that opening fire on body-ticks or Yellow Jackets would be a sound strategy. Our worst "Casualty" was an instructor who bivouacked in a nice shady grove of Poison Oak. 98% of multiple shootings ( of which there are actually very few, and are declining in number) take place in "Gun Free" zones, and while I find it irritating that CAP hates guns, You can A) play by the rules, B) Don't play, or C) break the rules and see what happens. I have opted to error on the side of caution and not carry my sidearm on CAP Business. If a few of my fellow CAP members have to be slain to show the wrongful, immoral, and futile value of affirmative self-defense, that's just a cost I guess I will have to bear....( In the meantime, try to stand next to someone wider and taller than you) I am glad that our California Bear are not particularly large and aggressive, if they were, I would try to find a cadet with a lower one mile-time than mine for any back-woods trips.

[NIN]

Many centuries ago, when people played maybe a little faster and looser with the rules that they do even now, as a C/TSgt I went to an activity that was held in a very remote part of Northern Michigan.

We had a number of firearms available for use on our rudimentary rifle range at this activity. A number of 22 caliber bolt action rifles and at least one M-1 Garand.

One night, just after lights out, we were all rousted from our tents due to a bear in the trash pit adjacent to the camp. As a city boy, the sight of a bear uncontained by the structures of a zoo was rather surprising to me. We were, as they say, out in the boonies.

Since I had just wired up the spotlight on our watchtower, I scampered up to train the light on the bear. I looked down to see one of the cadet officers standing on the ground below me with the M-1 casually over his shoulder. You are not in Kansas anymore Toto.

Later that week we went on a bivouac away from the camp. One of the senior members was a deputy sheriff, and was carrying his revolver. The next morning we were awakened to reports of a bear nearby, and the lieutenant was off in the woods. He shot at something a couple times. No idea what.

At the end of the second week we went on a longer bivouac with a 12 mile trek. The cadet commander had a 12-ga shotgun sticking vertically out of his ARVN ruck.

"What's that for? "

"Bobcat,  bear... whatever. "

Yeah.....

[THRAWN]

I guess New Jersey is in the west....

Plenty of bears, and rattlesnakes, and big cats roamin' them there hills...

[Cliff_Chambliss]

Although there are a number of bears in Alabama there is a simple way to avoid being mauled.  All that's required is:
1.  Never go walking in the woods alone.
2.  Always make sure your walking partner is a slower runner than you.

[THRAWN]

In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear confrontations, the New Jersey Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and be alert for bears while in the field. ...We advise that outdoorsmen wear small bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them, and to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter....
It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and fur. Grizzly bear droppings have little bells in it and smell like pepper.

[Luis R. Ramos]

Grizzly bear ... little bells ...

Those little bells that outdoors people were wearing previous to the encounter?

[LSThiker]

Since this has always been a point of contention for me, let us put this into perspective shall we?

Note:  These numbers come from a variety of different sources, but most sources cited the CDC. 

A per year average of fatal "attacks" for the US:
Heart Disease:  611,000
Auto Accidents:  33,000
Lightning: 49

Mosquitos:  Unknown number people in the US, but over 4 million in the world
Ticks:  Unknown but <1000--Lyme was an average of 8 and RMSF an average of 8 in the US.  Other tick borne diseases, such as anaplasma, powassan, TBE, etc are unavailable.

Deer:  130 (mostly due to auto)
Bee, Wasps, Hornets:  53-58
Dogs:  28-31
Horse:  20
Cattle: >20
Venomous spiders (Black widow, Brown Recluse):  7
Rattlesnakes:  6 (another source says these are usually alcohol related)
Scorpions:  0.5
Centipedes:  0.5
Sharks:  1
Alligators:  1
Mountain lions:  1
Black Bears:  1
Grizzly Bears:  1 --27 fatal incidences in North America with 29 deaths in all of 2000s.  Half in the US and the other half in Canada.  17 black bears; 10 grizzlies
Wolf:  0 --no fatal wild attacks in the US since 1888, but a few children from pet wolves
Alligator:  <1