http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-concealed-weapons-20141113-story.html

Anther step, IMO as long as you not a convicted criminal you should be able to carry a firearm. Firearms are a great equalizer , take this situation:

120 pound girl goes to a night club to a have drinks and 3 beat necks decide to get rapey and follow her out of the club with a decent gun and and some training she could avoid getting thrown in the rape dungeon.