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It's sad that these threads derail so quickly!
Carrying a gun in the backcountry isn't exactly taboo. The only downsides I could see are getting caught without the proper permits and the extra weight.
The only thing that most pro-gun hikers get wrong is their effectiveness at repelling bears. There have been several studies that have shown statistically that bear spray repels potential bear attacks >90% of the time, whereas guns work ~70% of the time.
Think about it, with a gun you have to draw, aim, and pull the trigger. With spray you just draw and pull the trigger, no need to aim precisely. Grizzly bears can close in on you @ 40ft/s.
Hikers who carry guns should also carry bear spray in brown/grizzly bear country. There is no debate at to which of the two work better!
