The guy in the store was more obvious about his position, but neither of us wanted to pursue a debate. I did open a potential crack when I said I didn't want to piss off the bears, and he let it go with a, "Well that can happen if you miss." A lot of guys would take it to the next level so they could defend whatever Gun Amendment it is in the constitution. But that has nothing to do with what happened that day. I just wanted the bear to leave me alone.
Which should be the default position. Of course you know about these people and their culture more than I do and you see this particular exchange as harmless considering what could have passed more in the conversation. I get it. The point that annoys me to no end is the general trigger happy attitude and the obscene appetite for killing and goading for it. Acting as if there is no other action to be taken. What he is saying is practically goading someone -someone they have no idea of- to use a deadly firearm to kill an animal for almost nothing when he is looking for a better, more reasonable solution. We have the same culture over here, it is just yours is official and defined by a law.
Anyone who lives with guns, sells guns should/would be the opposite of this. Because they are supposed to know the psychology of carrying a deadly weapon. There is a huge responsibility in selling such a product, the way they market and sell it and what they make people feel about it. If they are not, something is seriously wrong. This is not normal in any way. Can these people spend any time away from any fire arms, shooting and killing something just the for the heck of it? I doubt it. It's like drugs in a way. How do you act around someone like that? There isn't a very long step away from that unhealthy relationship with fire arms to shooting oneself when drunk and depressed or shooting people around when felt betrayed, angry or frustrated.