Legalities regarding firearms for bear safety in wilderness?

Every study ever done has shown a 12 gauge with slugs to be the best close range bear gun. Properly slung a shotgun is no more hassle than a sidearm and can be brought to bear more quickly. A plan is best. In all my Alaska, BC trompings I've only seen a handful of bears when I wasn't looking for them specifically and only one of those caused any problem at all.