Brian R. Muphy's attorney is scheduled to plead not guilty on Murphy's behalf during a court hearing in West Glacier on Friday. Murphy is scheduled to appear via video.
Charging documents say Murphy was hiking on the Mount Brown Lookout Trail on July 26 when a grizzly bear charged him. He told rangers he discharged his bear spray and fired a shot when the bear continued toward him. The wounded bear fled and could not be located.
It is legal to carry a gun in Glacier National Park but it is illegal to discharge it. A conviction carries a $500 fine.
Source: The Associated Press
Reader Comments
. . . that entire legal system seems to be broken and why this system and those associated with it deserve little or no respect.
We have politicians enacting too many absurd laws. We have LEOs frequently making absurd (and frequently injurious or deadly) enforcement decisions. We have prosecutors frequently bringing absurd charges (and frequently, refusing to bring charges in cases involving the well-connected). We have judges frequently upholding absurd actions by LEOs and prosecutors and also most of the absurd laws. None of them are generally held to any account for their absurdity because of legal and/or de facto immunity. And, as a final insult, they do it all on our dime.
Sometimes one can't help but to think of: "Nuke it from orbit--it's the only way to be sure." (paraphrased)
money ($500 fine) well spent.