I live in Vermont which has a lot of freedom on gun laws. Check it out... Anyway I don't carry, though I could. I live in a town with a lot of homeless and drug addicts and there have been sexual assaults and break ins near my neighborhood before. But I do have a big dog who doesn't like people coming up to me without permission and she is the best judge of character. She will listen if I tell her "friend" or "neighbor" but I don't have to do anything for her to be eager to let any sketchy person know she's got them in her sight and won't let them near me. She also is so good about it when my (mostly elderly) neighbors hang on her and pet her and love on her, she's not that interested in other people but if it makes me happy she is a very good girl and gives them soft sniffs and kisses.

But she's formidable and loyal and so brave!

I have things that could be used for defense (I am an avid invasive plant destroyer and keep a machete around to hack up Japanese knotweed and such, but that wouldn't be a very good idea) I have pepper spray but I don't feel the need to carry it.

The way I see it, this is my home and I'm the thing that goes bump in the night. My dog and I love hiking the mountains at night, and around downtown, and we never feel scared.

That being said, always wear good footwear and be good at getting away from situations. I've had incidents with sketchy drunk/high people who try to get in my and my dog's physical space, and my goal is to get away without having to hurt anybody.