Another point: it can also depend on where you live. There are some counties that are very anti-gun, where the city politicians and the D.A. hate guns, hate people who own guns, and think anybody with a CHL is a lunatic, and even if you shoot somebody in clear self defense, they will arrest you and throw you in jail and put you through the wringer. Other counties are just the opposite - they'll slap you on the back with a big "attaboy." Check around.
Your attitude is basically correct. You realize the absolute seriousness of taking that gun out of the holster. You realize it's not like a Bruce Willis movie. You realize that you pull that gun out when your very LIFE is materially threatened, and it is your ONLY available way to stay alive. That's all good. Go ahead and start carrying. Take a firearms self defense class if you can work it in.
Now... if you were acting like some armchair Rambo, shooting off your mouth like "Hey, man, anybody messes with me, I'll WASTE them suckahs, with mah fawty-five awtamattic!!!" then I'd REALLY be worried.
