I don't generally carry anything considered a weapon -- I do have a knife with me while hiking, but if I needed it for self defense I'd have to ask my attacker to hold up for a few minutes while I dig it out of my pack -- but I don't understand the attitude that it is somehow wrong or immoral to arm oneself, either. I don't see how planning for self defense by carrying a weapon is any more paranoid than planning for a house fire by carrying insurance.