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To defend myself, I stay aware of my surroundings. If I go into a new place, I make a mental note of where primary and emergency exits are in case I have to find one quickly, possibly through smoke. I can stay calm in emergencies (I read a few years ago that a personality trait commonly observed in ADD/ADHD individuals is a tendency to skip the panic/shock reflex and go right to action, and I definitely am one of them.) I don't drive through bad areas when I can avoid it, don't walk in bad areas at all, and when I can't avoid driving through an area where I wouldn't walk, I keep my foot on the gas.
I look at people and keep an eye out for habits or actions that indicate they might be a risk to my safety, and keep myself and others in my company away from anyone I think might be a threat to our safety. If I don't need to be there, I leave. If I have to be there, I keep myself between any potential threats and an exit.
If I'm armed, I understand that I have a way to turn an "I'm going to die" situation into a "him or me" situation. I'd never try to be a hero and pull a gun on someone robbing a bank or other business unless I felt that it was a matter of me using a gun or people being shot. At home, same thing goes. Using a gun means I'm more likely to leave in a police car or ambulance a body bag.
As far as defending property, securing my stuff is the first step. I don't flaunt things that I have and I'm not going to make it easy for someone who wants to take my stuff. If someone is in the act of taking my stuff and not a threat to me, the police get a call and I might tackle the guy if he starts running away. It's just stuff, I have insurance for it.
For defending my family and friends, see the section on defending myself. You fuck with them, you fuck with me.
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