It's not risky to me when I'm carrying a gun. I've probably carried a gun for 10K+ hours without even one handling error. I've also spent 10K+ hours at the range learning to draw and aim safely. Basically I've had a ton more training than your average cop. Oddly, I am not that great a shot. :-) -XC
I doubt that you aren't safe carrying. It's just tough to imagine a scenario where it works: This guy looks suspicious, but he hasn't pulled a gun. -I don't pull mine.
This guy pulled a gun on me. -I don't pull mine. I know several people that have had guns pulled on them. Not once in a scenario where having a gun would have done them any good. They are all fine.
I'd love to see the data on successful vs. unsuccessful use of guns in self-defense. But you'd also need to include instances where people didn't have a gun for defense and weren't harmed, which is the majority of incidents. I'm also talking about several people I personally know. Six come to mind immediately. That's enough anecdotes for me. EDIT: Make that 8. Detroit is a special place.