If I may but in here. My family and I live in the Sierra Foothills of Kamifornia and have been into caching for about 2 months now. My additional caching equipment consists of a Kimber Pro Carry II in 45acp along with an extra mag and a Kershaw folding knife (model 1560). However that is standard everyday wear for me, nothing unusual.
There have been four times when my having a firearm was a comforting, including one occasion when my hand was on it but the firearm was not drawn and latest occasion when it was not only drawn but fired. Thus chasing off two Coyotes that were about to eat my, then, 11 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback pup.
Always remember that YOU are the only one RESPONSIBLE for the safety of you and your family.
All of my guns put together have killed fewer people then Ted Kennedy's cars have.
TMKBK
www.shadowsfall.org