Matt
Is it safe to travel in the US? Since it's easy to have a gun in the US, how tourists in the US protect themselves?
Nov 23, 2016 11:42 AM
Answers · 7
2
Short answer: yes, it's safe. Nobody can guarantee perfect safety, stuff happens, but that's life. There aren't any special risks to being a tourist. If you are thinking of touring the U.S., go for it. (I'm tempted to say, 90% joking, "but if you're nervous, tour Canada instead, it's just like the U.S. but with strict gun laws.") I'm talking about this just as a practical matter. I am not part of the "gun lobby," I live in a state with strict gun regulation, I favor gun control, I find the shooting incidents horrifying. But even so, please remember that "if it bleeds, it leads" and the news media focuses and concentrate all the bad news. To be sure we are an elderly couple and not a likely hate target and it was before the election, but last summer we took a road trip for nine weeks, during which we traveled through at least seven "open carry" states--states where citizens are allowed to carry personal handguns as long as they are in plain sight: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota--and we never saw anyone but a policeman carrying a handgun. We bought bear spray in Yellowstone Park to protect ourselves against bears. We didn't take any steps to protect ourselves against gun owners. We didn't need the bear spray, either.
November 23, 2016
2
I am not American, but I imagine it is the same as any other country where residents are allowed to have guns. Firstly, just because someone has a gun does not mean that they will use it. I imagine that in most places in the US, you are more likely to be injured in a road accident than be shot. Follow the advice given by tourist authorities. There may be areas where gangs operate and that you should avoid. Most places will be safe.
November 23, 2016
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