Trust in Allah, but tether your camel.
Live as if you're free, and safe, but always carry a gun (unless you decide that you're more at risk for carrying from the local public domain criminals than for not carrying from those without badges).
Relevant joke:
A cop pulled over an old lady, for driving too slowly. He asked, "Ma'am are you armed?"
"Of course I am, son. Can't you see the M&P 40 on my hip?"
"Why yes, I can? Anything else?"
"Well, there's the little Ruger 380 in my purse."
"OK. Anything else?"
"Well, I always carry an AR in my trunk."
"Ma'am? What on Earth are you afraid of?"
"Not a thing, son. Not a thing."
HAHA! Great joke! :D I think mental state matters. Protect yourself, but out of strategy to keep living to see another day so you can contribute more to the world and the state's demise. Don't protect yourself out of paranoia and fear that robs you of peace and tranquility.
Agreed. Though I don't focus on the state's demise, either. I ignore the state as much as possible. Sure notice that tax bite, though.