mountain lion

Many of you have read or heard about the mountain lion attack on two brothers who were hunting for shed deer antlers in the foothills of northern California (El Dorado County). One of the two brothers was killed. Seems neither was armed with a firearm. A couple of questions: In California...

I'm a fairly serious hiker living in a state/county where it's extremely difficult to get a concealed carry permit. I have now seen five large mountain lions up close and personal and it's beginning to scare me. Mountain lions around these parts are FAR more aggressive than they used to me...