Gospel tract distribution

I do believe that God wants me to "preach" the Gospel by giving out Gospel tracts. Until now I have hardly ever given away Gospel tracts personally. I have always distributed anonumously. Left Gospel tracts on literature stands, with tip in restaurant, in Catholic chapels, in trains, in airplane seats (where your safety instructions are), etc.
I have hardly ever passed out Gospel tracts personally because of the way people react. People are violent and foul-mouthed today, so when you say something to them and hand them a Gospel tract, then they might beat you up, shout at you, call the police or shoot you. Wherever people gather that you could give Gospel tracts to, it says "no loitering, no littering, no soliciting, no trespassing, no nothing".
Have you dealt with any of these problems? What do you say to people that you give Gospel tracts to? I saw one member of an independent Baptist church walk the streets of our town and giving out tracts door-to-door. That's courageous. So many people here who do drugs, who might point a gun at you (yep, drug crimes and homicides are on a sharp rise here in this part of Tennessee), or throw a beer bottle at you.
Has anyone dealt with any of that before?