@Word

Why do you think I need self-defense weapons?

I have pepper spray on a wristband.

@LiterateHiker Pepper spray is only a minimum type of defense weapon. I have 10 years of law enforcement and understand use of force.

I can understand, some people would only want to have the minimum defense but when someone brings a gun fight to you, even though you do not ask or invite. ...

It actually gives though to me about the biblical teachings written about in the Book of Acts, be for "Christianity " was Romanticized. The stoning of Stephen is an example of defenseless passiveness that people would not even defend their own life when attacked by others.

It is a type of martyrdom. It's like, you would love the wilds of nature so much, that you would only carry pepper spray to scare off a bear. But, realistically, it could be that you pepper spray is limited compared to what a bear or several bears could do against some small can of spray. So you then, think that if your small pepper spray isn't enough for bears or a group of attacking theiving muggers, you would give your life, as in letting them over take you because your defense is not sufficient, thus giv6your life as a martyr for the cause of low defense.

@Word

Since age 21, I have hiked 200-350 miles year.

In 45 years of hiking, I have only seen one small bear and two cougars. None attacked us. This was in the Olympic Mountains in my 20s.

Rounding a corner, I surprised a small brown bear eating berries. Startled, we looked at each other, turned and ran in opposite directions.

I never hike alone. Safety in numbers. Pacific rattlesnakes are non-aggressive. I'm not worried.

@LiterateHiker it only takes the one time to kill you with having low defense

@Word

Stop being so negative. I refuse to live in fear.

@LiterateHiker I don't live in fear. I have walked and lived in the trenches of homeless amongst drug addicts, gang bangers and the like with no defense mechanism other than my own body parts. Understanding verbal judo can help but words do not always stop people's actions.

@LiterateHiker we live in a world of governmental terrorism, religious oppression of police brutality congering up taxation, fines, fees and court cost the only freedom is like that of Stephen atoned to death or an elimination of Masonic lodge secret religion racist devil worshippers government terrorism. It may require fighting fire with fire to bring about true freedom for all people animals to have true freedom from governmental terrorism, taxation and religious oppression.

@K9Kohle789

Wenatchee is surrounded by wildfires.

[tools.airfire.org]

It's easy to panic when you have to evacuate. I know by experience, having a numbered list handy in order of priority makes it much easier.

On September 29, 2015, I had to evacuate because the Sleepy Hollow wildfire was heading right toward me. Howling winds and over 100 degrees. The winds blew burning material across town. This fire destroyed 29 homes, a recycling plant, and a fruit packing warehouse that had boxes of cherries stacked, ready to be shipped.

Over 225 fruit packing workers were thrown out of work. The owners of other fruit packing warehouses stepped up and hired them all.

At the fruit warehouse, two ammonia tanks exploded in the fire. Wenatchee residents were ordered to stay indoors until the deadly cloud of ammonia gas dissipated. Took three hours.

The fire was deliberately started by a mentally ill man. He used a BIC lighter to light dry grass.

[nbcnews.com]

@K9Kohle789 and @Word Have you watched the news? Hundreds of acres of the west coast of the US has been consumed by wildfires over the past weeks, and still is. 500,00 Oregonians alone have been evacuated, likely the same or more in California and Washington, many losing their homes, businesses, farms, and lives. We are not running from the boogie man.

@tinkercreek

Thank you.