“Sure wish we could get carry permits in LA. We need them.”
So if you have a concealed weapon, and you have to use it for self-defense, I doubt that whether you have a permit or not is going to be the major problem you have to confront. And at least you will still be alive. Remember, your assailant won’t be worried about the fact that he doesn’t have a permit, now will he? Judged by 12 or carried by 6, it’s your choice.
Problem is, once you are found carrying without a permit, it’s a gun violation, and you can’t legally own weapons any longer. It can also have detrimental impact on future employment. It’s not as easy as just toughing it out.