When it comes to the choice of what to do when confronted with imminent personal harm/death and you are carrying ... I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six. Fregards.
I've lived in mostly low-crime areas, I don't hang around the 'bad' parts of town or do a lot of night travel. I'm also fairly imposing and very aware of my surroundings so my personal safety hasn't been a real issue outside of a very few times (mostly in Manhattan) over a long period of time.
As I also stated, my attitude is changing and I may make the move to buy a gun in the near future. As for not exercising the right to do so, that is still my personal choice and I will fight as hard as any NRA member to retain that constitutional right. If I ever thought that right was truly at risk I would buy as many guns as I could afford, as I would expect that an armed revolt was in the making and I would want to be prepared to do my part. Hopefully, that won't happen. Then again, Al Gore was almost elected President so anything is possible.