No trolling, Rob, but would you go to all the same confrontation avoidance trouble if you weren't carrying? Just seems like a huge pain in the ass.
I think i am MORE cautious because I have a gun with me. If shit goes sideways and I punch, run,whatever, chances are everyone is going home alive that night.
If I ever get out of my car and willingly step INTO a situation where a fight/ gun battle/ etc is obviously about to happen - then I have to stand in court one day and explain why I was so fcking stupid to do so. I have to look at the jury and say "umm, for realz tho, I had no idea stepping out into that group of people was a bad idea" and lie. And people see thru liars.
I would MUCH rather look the jury in the eye and say "dudes, I did EVERYTHING i could go avoid a confrontation and shooting - I moved my car, I apologized, I took 14 steps backwards til I hit the wall, I didn't respond to his 3 shoves, I yelled for help, I begged the dude to step, I deflected 4 punched and THEN I had to sadly use my weapon."
That's a lot better than "I wasn't worried, but he came at me, so I stood my ground". Dudes with that attitude make me sick. They invite the fight. A jury will see my ass was VERY much avoiding a shooting. Cause like other getbiggers said, this shit isn't comic book, movie stuff. Shootings are real-life with real ramifications. People that carry have a HUGE burden to back down, avoid fights, apologize, and run if possible. Their ego might be a little butthurt, but everyone goes home and they're not having nightmares of a shoot from a jail cell.
Just walk away from that shit. Run away from it! If/when you have to look a jury in the eye, you will have honesty on your side because, by golly, you are NOT one of those trigger-happy a-holes out to play sheriff.