From: Michael Wiik (mwiik@messagenet.com)
Date: Mon Aug 05 2002 - 11:58:55 MDT
I just saw an interesting report on CNN, about how a man managed to kill
a cougar which was attacking him. The man is in intensive care, but he
is alive.
The news report had interviews with forestry officials. The report
explained how adult cougars would track victims for miles and carefully
choose the right moment to pounce. In such cases the cougars are
attacking for one reason only: to get some tasty flesh to eat. The
officials explained how folks under cougar attack should fight back if
they want to survive. Use deception and noise to appear larger and more
powerful than you are, use sticks or whatever you have to fight the
cougar. The victim in the reported story had a pocketknife with which he
fought the cougar.
What I found interesting was that CNN would actually support the use of
weapons in fighting off such attacks. I speculate that if the attacker
was human, CNN would advise us to run away and call 911 or something, or
if not possible then to give the attacker what he wants. Such an
emergency protocol, if applied to cougars, might go like this:
911 OPERATOR: And where is this cougar now sir, what is he doing?
VICTIM: He's slashing at my throat, tearing out chunks of bloody flesh.
911 OPERATOR: Please try to stay calm. We'll have a police unit there
shortly.
Since I have heard rumors that CNN has been directed to not report any
positive civilian use or even display of firearms to save one's life or
the life of one's family or other innocent bystanders, I was confused
that CNN would report this story in this manner. Perhaps it was because
the weapon was a pocketknife and not a firearm, or perhaps it was
because the attacker wasn't human. Maybe an interesting followup report
could analyze the differences and similarities between an attacking
cougar and an enraged murderer or rapist, and why advice on use of
weapons and fighting tactics is appropriate for one and not the other.
Thanks,
-Mike
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