From Aftenposten:
Students on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard aren't allowed to leave their village without a shotgun and ammunition. That's because hungry polar bears can be behind every swing on the island.
Although no one wants to shoot a polar bear, and they're indeed protected by national law, the huge white animals can quickly outrun a human. And humans don't have a chance if confronted by an aggressive bear.
So everyone on Svalbard needs to be able to defend him- or herself, and students undergo weapons training every year.
"We feel more secure and look forward to learn a lot more," said Helga Therese Tilley Tajet of Moelv. She's studying meteorology at the University of Oslo and will concentrate on the Arctic marine climate for the next six months at the university on Svalbard, UNIS.
The students are also trained in Arctic survival techniques in addition to how to use a weapon. "It's absolutely necessary,"
Helga Therese Tilley Tajet (from left) Eliza Harris and Helene Birkelund Erlandsen started their school year with a course on weapon use and survival in the Arctic.
Now, if you take out the references to bears, and add "crack head", "gang banger", or "serial rapist" instead, you come up with a good rational for encouraging our college students to protect themselves.
H/T to The War on Guns and Tony for this story.
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