A lot of people who don't live in the big city carry tools with them all of the time. You don't think about being armed you just thing about being prepared to prevent yourself from freezing to death.
While I do understand your sentiment it made me smile as I thought of an event in the last 10 years. I have long since lost the source. A nut attacked a congregation with a sword, I think it was on the British side of the pond but I could be wrong. As he was stabbing people depserate times call for desperate measures. He was subdued when a deacon and parishoner defended with the only things they had at their disposal, a crucifix removed from a wall and a pipe hastily removed from the organ.
Fox said the gunman had the knife. Near the end of the article.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,506886,00.html
A lot of men that I know carry a knife at all times, along with their wallet. It is not for self defense, it’s purely utilitarian.