Well. Interesting thread. Like my dad used to say "opinons are like 'another part of the anatomy', everybody has one". Here's mine.
I've hiked with many liberals; still do. I may not agree with their politics but that doesn't make them stupid in the backcountry...carelessness and lack of respect for the terrian knows no political boundaries.
Also, there are a lot of hazards in the forest/mountains that require more than a gun for self preservation.
A national forest is eight miles from my door. It starts at 6500 feet. I hike there several times a month each summer and have for years. I am always cautious and so far...so far....I'm still at it. God is my Shepard but he'd never forgive me for being unprepared
Altitude, terrain, and fatigue takes more unprepared people than bears; the bears just cleanup the mess.
Any type of trail where you may not meet another human is a trail to be respected. They are also the most enjoyable and challenging. Most gain altitude rather rapidly as they follow drainage (water flows downhill, game need water, therefore most desolate hiking trails are really game trails). Due to these factors, if you are not in good physical condition you put yourself at risk. This risk is multiplied if you get lost.
Study maps and know how to use a compass. Call me old fashion but I still carry a compass and check my bearing often. Getting lost is a killer. You must, must know where you are especially on the return; to come down a wrong drainage can put you miles from your starting point an vehicle. Plan, plan, plan, then worry about the size of your gun.
With regard to protection...I always hike with my dog. I'm on my second hiking dog and can't imagine being in backcountry without her. She is my early warning radar. If she is cautious; I am cautious. I rationalized that I carry a gun to protect my dog.
As for gear, I always carry a 25 pound pack. In it is 6.6 pounds of water in a platypus bag, a compass, altimeter, topo map, extra key to my car, extra shirt, socks, underwear, Gore tex hooded rain jacket, stocking cap, down jacket, zip lock bag with several pieces of fat wood, lighter and matches, surveyors florescent tape, energy bars, raisins, leather gloves, note pad, pencil, GMRS radio (receives NOAA weather station and can transmit on the station monitored by forset service), small binoculars....last but not least may be field guides for scat, trees etc.
Outside the pack on my person is my G27, two spare mags, a very sharp knife, a pocket BUG and a camera.
Other than the food and water I've not used much of the gear myself but many times I've given someone a shirt, cap, jacket, gloves, food, water, etc. You'd be amazed a how far some people go with little more than a stick of gum. Last year I took my niece's husband to a mountain area with goats and he wore tennis shoes....yes, tennis shoes. After a couple of hours walking on rocks and in scree (talus) he had torn a shoe, then going through a marsh wet the socks, and the gum got old. He did not have fun but he did enjoy my spare dry socks.
I also tell someone exactly where I intend to go, where I'm parking and when I plan to be back. That's about it. And yes I do often wear both a belt and suspenders.
BTW cell phones have a nasty habit of not finding service in mountainous areas that can consume a human.