Let me give you two cautionaire tales. We used to have a great rec.aviation..helicopter newsgroup. The chief Sikorsky test pilot Nick Lappos was a member. In short order just two posters ran everyone away from the newsroup by posting crap that had nothing to do with helicopters,. Fifteen years later, this newsgroup is still not viable. As for guns in gliders for protection, not one committed or had a question when I posted that I was probably the only member that had an emergency landing in the back country and had an encounter with a wild animal capable of eating me. That leads me to believe this is not a serious question. Full disclosure, I did grow up in Idaho, gun country, and I used to shoot competitively. I also, early in life was a paid mountain guide. My professional opinion for the lower 48 that a gun anywhere in your glider is more of a danger than any animal you might encounter. When I had an E landing in the back country at sunset my biggest problem was only having flashlights that could produce, red, green or blue light. I did get stalked by a mountain lion for over 100 yards, he/she parallel my path 15 yards away. But being an avid outdoorsman, it had my attention but not too worried. I have encountered bears and mountain lions many times without ever picking a fight. This is not meant as any disrespect to anyone, but I believe if you are seriously considering carry a gun in a glider, that is more about self fears and doubts, not about a real danger. Best regards to all and happy 4th.