First, it comes from the perspective that there are extremely evil and desperate people in the world that do horrible things to victims. Like it or not, believe it or not, there are selfish/greedy/violent people in your city, town, neighborhood, maybe even on your city block. You pass them every day on the roads and interstates. You stand in line at the store with them. These people are capable of armed robbery, taking hostages, stabbing you, shooting you, lighting you on fire, committing unimaginable violent crimes against you and your loved ones. They'll do it for drug money, thrills, or boredom. Or for no reason at all.
I've seen, and unofficially studied, a lot of victims and their treatment at the hands of their brutal captors... civilians and military alike. I've seen videos of read stories and heard accounts from witnesses of things unmentionable on this forum. But a few examples.
1. Quite town in CT a few years back. A couple thugs followed mom and daughters home, later broke in, beat father to near death, did horrible crimes to the females, and poured gas on the females and burned the house down. For kicks.
2. Last year, a jogger was out jogging and a few bored kids drove up to him and shot him and killed him while he was running. They were bored. That might not be the best example of how a jogger could defend himself with a gun, but you get the idea. I will suggest that carrying a gun makes you start to have better situational awareness. At least that's my experience. I start paying attention more to my surroundings, a term called "situational awareness." You are aware of suspicious slow moving cars with thugs in them. You sit facing doors in public. You observe and watch for suspicious people... So perhaps if this jogger were a person inclined to carry a gun, he might have chosen his route differently, or been more attuned to the slow moving car with 3 thugs all watching him... and evaded.
Any time spent on this subject will reveal horrible deaths and near-deaths by real-world victims.
Also, there are stray violent animals in the world. Stray aggressive dogs. Wild animals in the woods, etc.
Then you see that the common link for most victims is that they were lax in their own safety, lax in their own situational awareness, and almost universally they did not have any effective way to defend themselves. Had most of the victims had a simple handgun with them and some training, they likely would have not been a victim.
I refuse to be a victim.
My safety and security is more important than anything else. The most effective way for me to protect my safety/security is to carry a gun and protect my home with, among other things, guns. Just like you take other preventative measures, both passive and active (seatbelts, lifejackets, fire extinguishers, spare tires, cell phones/911, safety glasses, first aid kit, etc.).
We are a rare culture and 'experiment' in that civilians can own and carry guns. I take full advantage of my rights. For a minimal amount of monetary investment, and training that I enjoy, I have the security and freedom on my hip that allows me to feel safe in a violent and unpredictable chaotic and violent world. ... Down the street, across town, across state, and across country to most states and locations that permit concealed carry.
And I've been in areas where I have been thankful to have a handgun or longgun with me.
Ever see royalty/wealthy people out in public. They are swarmed with professional armed body guards.
Unlike royalty/wealthy people, who have armed body guards, I can't afford armed body guards. So it's up to me to protect myself.