If you're going to spell it more phonetically I'd recommend at least woostah. Or really it's more like whuh-stah. I've got a bunch of relatives around there.

Is anyone even slightly surprised at an uber liberal state like taxachusettes is demonizing a gun owner (worse, user) and saying awesome things like "Obviously we believe if Mr. Ahlstrand was truly in fear for his life he would have stayed secured in his home and would have called the police," I know I'm not.

Back in the day, I had a girlfriend who had went to school at Clark University, and she always referred to Worcester as Worm Town.

Ya, 'whuh-stah' is prefect.:-D

With the new gun laws the Connecticut just passed, they've have now out-done taxachussettes in the demonizing. It's all over but the crying.

"Obviously we believe if Mr. Ahlstrand was truly in fear for his life he would have stayed secured in his home and would have called the police."

Yeah, because the average front door would stop a bear for, what, about three seconds? Remember, kids, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. And what would the police have done anyway? Give the bear a TSA groping?

Remember:

When seconds count, 911 is minutes away.

A person denied the tools by which they may defend themselves is not a citizen but a serf.

Obviously, the bear was more valuable to the State than the old retiree.

When my brain read 'whuh-stah' it sounded like Scharzenegger...

Holy crap. If this poor old man goes before a jury of his peers from Worcester then he will probably spend the rest of his life in prison. Just read the comments on that Telegram article:

"That sick old criminal intended to do what he did...Whatever his motivation, he's a depraved individual" (from outta worcester, 11 agree/3 disagree)

"This man is a sick individual who should be shown no mercy when it comes to his punishment" (from Worm, 6 agree/3 disagree)

Was the bear named Trayvon?

The comments seem to heavily support the man. A few whack jobs do not a consensus make.

The comments seem to heavily support the man. A few whack jobs do not a consensus - MonicaP

Yes, but smart rational people, assuming they choose not to get out of jury duty, are rary selected for juries.

Prosecutors HATE people capable of thinking for themselves

Many moons ago I was hiking & rough camping in the Smoky Mountains. I saw a couple of cubs run across the trail. I then very carefully looked around for mama bear. She was there. I made a careful detour around the backside of mama bear. (And I was armed with a 9MM pistol.)

If a bear shows up in my backyard now, without cubs, it is fair game. Especially if it is coming my way, quickly.

---------------------------

Semi-off-topic:

Connecticut shot themselves in the foot.

Yes, Jim. Yes they did.

He deserves what he gets. He forgot to shout, "It's comin' right for us!"

There's something I don't get. If he thought he needed to bring the gun outside, why did he GO outside in the first place? After all, it COULD have been some teen pulling a prank - and who might have been shot instead.

Seems to me that he could (probably) just as easily have opened an upstairs window and poked the gun through that - IF necessary.

Seems to me that he could (probably) just as easily have opened an upstairs window and poked the gun through that - IF necessary. -- lenona at April 10, 2013 5:45 PM

We're lacking a bunch of facts. But most states have laws that you can kill predatory or nuisance animals on your own property regardless of season, and actually regardless of direct threat. There are some caveats with regard to the Endangered Species Act, but those are usually civil charges.

I'd love seeing this guy (and his lawyer) find the laws on the book in Massachusetts and take it in front of a judge.

Shoot, shovel, and shut up. The bear's next of kin won't turn you in.

Civil Disobedience.

Actually they left a key bit of info out. He had a 50 lbs "bird feeder" out there. He was most likely poaching deer with a bow/cross bow. Then his lures attracted something his robbin hooding couldn't stop. When asked about the feeder even he knew he was full of shit when he said it.

I'm all for defending against predators but you can't claim self defense after baiting the animal.

As far as mass gun laws yup, they suck hard and nasty. You have to go mother may I to get a permit to own. You have to be the chiefs buddy to get a carry in most areas. Yet in Worcester, Lowell and a few other place you need a few hundred bucks get yourself a street piece, hookers, blow and guns right down the block. Yeah it's probably a mickey mouse piece which will probably jam or explode in your hand. For a bit extra you can get a nicer piece. Legal purchase prices start at $500 and go up into the tens thousands for pre-ban/exempted guns, except a few used 22 target guns.

Actually they left a key bit of info out. He had a 50 lbs "bird feeder" out there. He was most likely poaching deer with a bow/cross bow. Then his lures attracted something his robbin hooding couldn't stop. When asked about the feeder even he knew he was full of shit when he said it. -- vlad at April 11, 2013 12:49 PM

Now, please show me where a 50 lbs "bird feeder" is illegal?

He was most likely poaching deer with a bow/cross bow.

Please let me know what king, duke, tyrant, knight declared killing animals on my property is poaching?

Then his lures attracted something his robbin hooding couldn't stop.

I always recommend using the appropriate or excessive force against any enemy foriegn or domestic. BTW, what is robbin hooding on your own property?

When asked about the feeder even he knew he was full of shit when he said it.

Again -- you are presuming he did something wrong. Where is it written that it is illegal to take game on your property?

So I blow away a rabbit that is in my garden eating my lettuce in July. Am I poaching or am I defending my produce?

"Yeah it's probably a mickey mouse piece which will probably jam or explode in your hand."

Good for robberies, though. And if you hold it with the grip sideways, you look really gangsta and cool. Especially if it's chromed.