Sort of. While where I live is good for the most part -albeit there was a sniping attack within 20-miles awhile ago, but other than that it's been quieter-, I'm often out in town until fairly late at night, that will likely change when classes start back up but over the summer I've been out more often, and there's been times where I've been glad to have something when walking the couple of blocks back to where I'm parked (despite being on the more up-scale side of town, there's far worse areas, there have been some muggings/assaults near there and you'll sometimes see people high on things like meth). So, no, the knives aren't necessary but at the same time I like knowing that I have something just in case (although I agree with Walsingham that the best course of action is to be in a group or be able to avoid a confrontation).