The U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office announced last week that it would not pursue charges against Brian Murphy, a 57-year-old Texan who had been charged with illegally discharging a firearm in Glacier National Park, . Murphy had shot a grizzly bear while hiking in July.
Murphy said the bear was drawn to him when he shouted to warn downhill hikers of the bear鈥檚 presence. He claimed he fired his .357 revolver only when the bear was about 10 feet away and undeterred by bear spray. He reported the shooting to a park ranger and turned in the gun. The wounded bear has not been located.
A 2010 law made it legal to carry guns in national parks, but it remains illegal to fire a gun in many of them, including Glacier.