I carry myself respectfully. So far, after over 60 years, that's all I have ever needed! 
Worked in Transylvania County too much to not carry lol.....
In all seriousness that is what prompted me. I dont ALWAYS carry, and havent for a while, just depends on where I'm at or going.
Came across too many old "agricultural" fields in them rhodo-hell thickets out near Round Mountain in Transylvania county when I was doing wetland/stream delineations.
Hope like the devil that the only thing I ever point it at is paper or cans....I did have to dispatch a coon once, near a crowded school bus stop, that was extremely thin and sickly looking, aimlessly wandering and stumbling, and not scared of anything. Probably distempor, but there had been 2 cases of rabies within a mile of that community that summer.