Bill......GREAT post! ...and hi, nice to meet you. You have reminded me of a segment done on, I THINK it was the News program called "60 Minutes" many years ago, where they spoke of this topic and discovered that in The States where people were more heavilly, legally, toting guns there was actually lower crime rate...(at least at that time, I would love to know if that fact is still true) .......that blew even MY mind.....but a few things in your post reminded me of their investigations and the story they did on the subject.....it seems criminals are often far less likely to get too daring when they know they are in a place where people are able to smoke 'em out if they dare pull any crap..............they spoke of lower crime rates from everything to robbery and assult to car theft, rape and home invasion etc.......there was far less of that going on.....
I have been thinking about that, and it does make some sense.......and criminals do access their situations and opportunites and go for what they believe to be easy targets usually......'attitude' as you've mentioned really is a great 'energy' to make certain you have in certain situations to make any suspicious person or threat think twice about trying anything risky with you..... attitude is a great first weapon and defensive 'warning' for anyone who might want to try something violent with you......but one must learn to conjure the strength to not only project that attitude, but be able to back it up.
I am a gun owner, an ex Knife-Thrower, Sword Fighter and Bull Whip Artist and a bit wicked with each 'hobby' and I tend to have 'items' on me that may or may not be acceptable at times BUT I am comfortable, confident and have many years of precision skills with each 'item' that might be on me.............but it all starts with your brain......quick thinking and good observation of other people around you IS indeed very important............and one must think like a wolf in certain situations, be clever and cautious but absolutely show no fear of another person if confronted.
I have told a few friends in the past, that if they were uncomfortable with knives or guns to at the very least purchase some Pepper Spray and carry it handy (NOT at the bottom of your purse where you have to dig for it!) there are many ways to cleverly carry protective items....but again stressing attitude.....if you do not maintain attitude or if your fear gets the best of you, any protection you are carrying, if you hesitate to use it, might do you little good..........again, GREAT post.