It's not a matter of being afraid it's a matter of being smart --- I'm sure that the hiker killed a year or so ago by a young inexperienced bear hunter wasn't "afraid" to hike without it either. Not liking to be told what to do by the government is poor excuse for giving bad advise to another hunter. If this irresponsible comment represents things typically stated by moderators on this forum than it should be shut down.
I was not giving advice but just stating the way I feel about it and what I do. You have your opinion and I have mine, and we are both free to state those opinions here. As I said, I don't normally hunt in areas that have a lot of other hunters, but if I did, I very well may have a different perspective on it. I don't agree that it's not a "matter of being afraid". Of course it is! Sorry but I don't think that makes you any "smarter" than me. You have your opinion, I have mine. Neither is right or wrong, but just different.