That's real sad...
My 81 year old Dad would still be up for a justifiable dust-up.*
I know my neighbors, they know me.
We know we can count on one another.
You make your world around yourself.
At least here, their is the option of 'standing your ground' if some abomination jacks you and your wife up with a 16" knife as Howburn described.
No one would hold it against you here for defending your life against a total piece of shit knife menacing thug.
Cowboy culture an' all....
* at his age though, he'd only be able to wield a sawed-off scatter gun.