Posted on 07/17/2012 6:33:53 AM PDT by Daffynition
WEST HARTFORD ——
A man walking dogs on Metropolitan District property early Monday fired eight shots from a handgun at a bear that he said attacked his schnauzer, officials said.
The man, identified by police as Dan Sweeney, 29, of West Hartford, was not injured. It was not clear Monday whether he will face charges.
"They're trying to figure out exactly what happened," said Lt. Jeff Rose, referring to West Hartford police officers. "Were there people around? Was he in danger?"
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
We've been down this road B4: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2828949/posts
This is why sane people leave CT and move to the South.
West Hartford is a very nice suburb. It has the advantage of a huge reservoir area (the MDC property mentioned) great for hiking and dog walking but also quite secluded. It’s more than a bit unfortunate that the area in town where one is most likely to need a gun, they’re prohibited. I think a pre-emption challenge re:state law should he be charged might be a good start.
Some idiot said black bears never attack humans or dogs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America
West Hartford is a very nice suburb. It has the advantage of a huge reservoir area (the MDC property mentioned) great for hiking and dog walking but also quite secluded. It’s more than a bit unfortunate that the area in town where one is most likely to need a gun, they’re prohibited. I think a pre-emption challenge re:state law should he be charged might be a good start.
MOST STATES have these idiotic laws. In PA, you can’t shoot bears, rattlesnakes, or large cats near your house unless they are attacking you, your family, or livestock. Not sure about pets. I think that if a dangerous animal is on your property in areas that people or livestock frequent, it is a de facto threat to people and should be put down. But that is common sense...
The MDC property is indeed lovely. I hope this guy lawyers up...quickly ...I suggest Martha Dean. :)
The way the laws are written and enforced, leaves one with the personal decision to break the law and face the consequences.
The unfortunate Windsor man [referenced above], went through h3ll.
Unfortunately, the dog that was attacked was *off-leash*....against the *rules*.
Common sense in CT is long-gone....why it is still called The *Constitution State* I’ll never know.
Bears know better than to mess with FReepers.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1670661/posts
Suprising the cops didn’t shoot the dog to eliminate the source of the problem.
In my younger days I spent a lot of time in the wilderness, packing in people and supplies, and just packing myself in, often with my burro. I met a number of black bears, and they were all agreeable enough, but none of them were my friends. People are far more likely to be attacked by a black bear than a grizzly.
Yes and they are vastly more likely to be -killed- by a black bear.
The “play dead’ routine doesn’t work with them.
If they do come after you, it’s to make you truly dead.
The neighborhhod had a lot of property damage by one several years ago and now at least two of them are living on the ridge behind me.
I don’t go walking up there any more.
The life of my dogs just isn’t worth the risk.
Black bears kill more people than Grizzlies.
Yes, they do.
I've spent many days and hours in the New England woods, camping and hiking...and never, ever once encountered a black bear, except for a brief moment when one crossed in front of the car on a snow-packed back road...I hit my breaks and skidded to a stop to within inches of hitting her [I say *her*...I have no idea what it was, male or female, happened too fast] ...she stood up on her hinds and turned toward the car with her mouth open and claws/paws raised in defiance...and then when about hustling off. This was in the mid of winter and she should have been hibernating....most strange.
It’s been a long,long time since we could let the dogs just *go* and run free in the woods. Makes me sad....they warn us here that it is *our* fault for leaving out trash cans and bird feeders...and *of course* we DO NOT have any mountain lions in Connecticut. Evah. Heh.
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