Reply #49: Most folks will never need to defend themselves, they just think they will and like guns.

[Hoyt]

You can defend yourself by not going where trouble is more likely, by being aware of what is going on, etc. Now, if you want to carry a gun for whatever reason(s), you can rationalize it by saying there is always a .000000000000000000046234% chance I might need a gun. Then, of course, you have to say that your actions have 0 impact on society -- which is not the case.

And you could carry pepper spray, but for most gunners that's just not sexy/cool/macho enough.