Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s california, CCW permits are May-Issue (I.e., very rare) and open carry is banned. It’s less likely that assaulting random civilians will get you shot there than in, say, Texas.
How about pepper spray? If assaulting random civilians got you pepper sprayed half the time, that might be a deterrent.
B) if you end up in a conflict it's always better to run. It's safer for you than to escalate. In sane countries failing to run can invalidate any claim of self-defense. Thus, you'd find yourself on the hook for "armed assult".
Even if you state or country is crazy enough to have a "stand your ground" law, you are always better served by running away or de-escalating by other means.
Your ego might be hurt, but that is rarely fatal :)