Many people think that owning a handgun is the best answer to self defense, but in many cases this is not the case. If you have a holstered gun, most times an assailant can close a gap of more than 20 feet before you can draw your sidearm properly, aim, and pull the trigger.
This video shows Guro Dan Inosanto in a training exercise with various officers from the LA police force. It clearly demonstrates the superiority of hand held weapons versus a firearm in a close quarter situation.
In the end, the human body is the ultimate weapon. Your reflexes, and hand to hand comabat skills, will save you from an assault better than a firearm in most situations. Not that firearms aren’t an effective means of self defense, but just owning a gun does not guarantee your safety.