Bee... you're right.. how a person (read "woman") carries themselves is very much a part of how their interactions in the wilderness (or anywhere else) are going to go... someone who looks around... makes eye contact.. stands taller.. is going to be less likely to get "targeted" then someone who walks with shoulders hunched, folded in on themselves, constantly staring at the ground and their toes.
BullDog... several weeks ago I went to one of our local county parks to photograph the flood stage river that had resulted from the massive rains we'd recieved here in SoCal. I had mentioned the previous evening to my Mom that I would be going during lunch... and then sent a cell phone photo to a couple of friends from the park. As I walked a little further back into the park to get to a different vantage point I crossed paths with a couple of guys (looking a tad bit disheveled) and the thought process that went through my head (as a solo female in a fairly remote area) was as follows: 1- Are these two going to be trouble for me? 2-Who knows where I am? 3- Can I defend myself against these two? 4- Do I turn around and get back to my car right now? 5- Could I get to my car before they get to me? 6- Now that I've passed them do I hear them following me? 7- I'm due back to work at 1, how long will it take them to notice I'm not there and start wondering where I am? (I was on my lunch break). This entire thought process took about 2 seconds... but it still put me on edge for the rest of my walk, so I totally sympathize with the girl who you assisted. It doesn't matter what the intentions are.. if you're already stressed out... (and I do remember you talking about that incident on the other board).
Another thing to consider regarding carrying firearms... if it comes down to it are you going to be able to use that weapon? If you were attacked... do you have the cahones to pull that gun, point it at another living human being (no matter what threat they are) and pull the trigger? If you freeze or panic and get the gun out, but then can't pull the trigger... guess what? You've just put another advantage (and weapon) into your attackers hands, because as soon as they overpower you, that gun is theirs. I'm sure that the whole overpowering thing would be less likely to happen to a man then it would be for a woman... but take me for example. I am 5'00" in my stocking feet... I weigh in at just over 140... if I don't fire that weapon as soon as it's out of it's holster, danged near any man is going to be able to wrestle that from me. Don't think I won't put up a fight... but I am not going to disullision myself far enough to think that I'm goign to be able to keep my weapon from any average sized man who wants it...
