I'll chime in here. First, I'd like to dispel the myth that weapons are useless or only for the weak. Speaking of the weak, weapons make perfect sense. A gun is said to be the great equalizer. An 80-year-old frail woman who can barely get around would be an easy target for gangbangers to beat up and rob. Now if that same elderly frail woman has a .357 on her side and has been shooting since she was 11 years old, that changes things. I have an Arizona CCW permit. I usually carry where legally allowed and sometimes visibly. Last night I made a trip to the local Walmart after midnight. There were about seven thug-looking characters loitering around the entrance who clearly didn't look like they belonged there and had no intention of shopping or doing anything constructive. I walked in with my Glock on my hip and did my quick one-item shopping. Ten minutes later when I walked out of the store, guess how many of them were still hanging around acting suspicious? You guessed it: ZERO.
Enough about guns. Let's talk about situational awarness which I think is most important. Let's assume that someone is determined to do you in. They can't do so if they can't get to you. They can either attack you in your home, in the company of others (such as a public place), or while traveling (walking, driving, bus, etc.). You can protect yourself quite well in these situations without needing weapons or martial arts at all. At home, lock the damn doors. Problem solved. If that fails, every home has some type of a weapon (i.e. kitchen knife) that can be used to do in an intruder. As to public places, pay attention to your surroundings. Sit in a restaurant at a seat where you have the maximum view of your surroundings. Note your exits. If you are in line at a store, beware of blind spots as you remove your wallet to pay for the items. These things may take getting used to but after awhile they become second nature. As to traveling, use your five senses. If you are walking, you can not only see but hear or smell another person approaching (i.e. freshly lit cigarette). It sounds animalistic but we are mammals and use your instinctual survival skills. Cars--check your mirrors, watch when you get in/out of the car. Just pay attention to what is around you such as on trains, buses, etc.
I've always found that the easiest way to avoid being victimized is literally as simple as paying attention. I could be armed to the teeth but it won't help if my mind is buried in the morning paper while someone is sneaking up behind me.
If the fight is on, my advice is create distance. This is precisely why I like weapons vs. martial arts. A fist can be far deadlier than a gun or knife. All they have to do is knock you unconscious and you are done. The purpose of physically fighting is to re-create distance. Knock the gun out of their hands, quickly duck/dodge as they try to stab you, etc. However, once you have fought with your body and created the distance, the key is to maintain that distance. Pepper spray, tasers, knives, and guns all create distance more effectively than fists.
Be brave and don't feel powerless. Victimizers tend to prey on people deemed to be weak. That is why attackers often attack in groups. However, there is likely an alpha male in the group. Suppose six guys want to beat you. One is likely the toughest baddest one in the group. The others are following him. Once you down the worst one, the others may just back off. Plus, fight dirty. Seriously. It is your life, your body, and your existance at stake. My only other advice is to regularly run what-if scenarios in your head. It may seem like paranoia but can save your life. The more situations you imagine the more solutions to them you will create. When the real event happens you will automatically revert to your training. If you already have a plan, you are likely to mess up the attacker's plan because they certainly will assume you don't have one. Take care.
