Feeling Safe in the United States

[tangoprime]

Where the hell did you go? I've lived in America all my life and I'm currently living in arguably the most gun-supportive state in America(Texas) and I have yet to walk down the street and see people carrying a gun. That being said, I have never felt safer than when I'm walking down the streets in Texas. The idea of a bunch of people owning guns is one of preventative measures. If everyone has a gun, no one will want to fire the first shot for fear of their life.

Pretty much this. I live in Texas now, and feel quite safe compared to other parts of the country. To preface this, and to the OP, try living in Baltimore for 22 years, then tell me you wouldn't appreciate the option to be armed, or to live somewhere where non-criminals are at least as armed as the criminals.

 

[Griffolion]

Well, the boyish part of me thinks guns are cool and fun. But the rest of me would sooner they didn't really exist. It isn't up to me how a country dictates gun laws to its citizens, and I understand why guns are so free, culturally, in America.

I spent some time in the States, was around some gun owners, can't say I was "scared". Mainly because I knew them and they were well versed in gun handling.

I have a great deal of respect for America's gun culture. Despite such dangerous things being so free, there are (relatively) so few gun-related deaths, and even less so as a result of accidents or bad handling. Those interested in guns will almost always be very close to a local club to provide training and assistance, and even possibly members of their family to do the same.

 

[Flames66]

I am from England. Around here we do not have a gun culture at all so it would probably be a culture shock for me to go somewhere where owning and carrying a gun is an every day occurrence.

That being said, I always have a knife on my person. Not a huge combat knife but a Swiss Army Knife like this:

Spoiler: Knoife

I carry it mainly for everyday use (opening bottles, cutting loose threads, screwdriver), but I must admit it does make me feel safer knowing that I have something I could potentially use as a weapon on with me at all times.

 

[el_kabong]

As a US citizen who has lived in both rural areas and bigger cities, I am not terrified of being involved in a firefight at any moment. Why? Because I don't carry a gun. Studies have confirmed that carrying a gun (even legally) means that you are more likely to be shot by one.

Most people don't want to kill. There are the outlying sociopaths, but I'm excluding them as they are dangerous whether they have a gun or not. If someone is carrying/using a gun, it's for a purpose that can often be rendered null by you not being a threat. If they simply have murder on their mind, having a gun on you probably won't stop them, especially if they're even semi-competent at ambushing you from an unexpected angle.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I feel pretty safe living here... then again, I do have an AK-47 in my closet, along with 4 other guns. The whole idea of walking around with a gun is that we can. It is perfectly legal for me to carry that AK with me (they have open carry where I live), but I need a license to conceal my 9mm. In the past few years, I've had a pedophile try to get my in his car, my car broken into, another guy tried to break into my car a few weeks ago, my mom's ex breaking into her house (while I lived there), multiple break-ins within a few blocks when I lived there (one ending in a double homicide). Plus I like going shooting. I need to get my CCW just to feel a bit better since I end up bring in the wrong place at the wrong time a lot.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

I own many guns. Pistols, rifles, shotguns, Bows, crossbows. I guess its got alot to do with our heritage, perhaps, and that we take alot of pride that we have the right to bear arms. It doesnt make everyone that has or owns firearms someone that would be out to harm you, I assure you.

*edit* I will add one more thing, too. I have taught my children how to use firearms, like I learned from my father. Basically, they are using BB guns, and .22s, but they know how to shoot. But the important thing is that I teach them to respect the weapons, and to treat them as if they are always loaded, etc. etc.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

So you've been to dangerous third world countries, and you were terrified by the fact that there's guns in Amerika? What the fucking hell am I hearing?

 

[Fappy]

I live in Georgia of all places and have only seen guns possessed by those other than police officers when I went out looking for them. I feel a bit antsy around them, but I have never feared for my life because of them.

Really? You must live in a non redneck infested area of our state (hahaha can't say that with a straight face) or have been lucky. Where I'm @ about half the men and some women carry guns. Some of them legally.

I live in Roswell/Marietta area, so yeah, not very redneck-y. However, I did go to school at Georgia Southern in Statesboro for four years and never ran into anyone walking openly with a gun there at any point. I found out just recently that a friend of mine had a conceal and carry, but I never even knew he was armed all those times we hung out.

 

[Fappy]

I live in Georgia of all places and have only seen guns possessed by those other than police officers when I went out looking for them. I feel a bit antsy around them, but I have never feared for my life because of them.

Really? You must live in a non redneck infested area of our state (hahaha can't say that with a straight face) or have been lucky. Where I'm @ about half the men and some women carry guns. Some of them legally.

I live in Roswell/Marietta area, so yeah, not very redneck-y. However, I did go to school at Georgia Southern in Statesboro for four years and never ran into anyone walking openly with a gun there at any point. I found out just recently that a friend of mine had a conceal and carry, but I never even knew he was armed all those times we hung out.

Lucky. I live in Macon. Very much a redneck infested area.
And not seeing guns on a college campus is not surprising. Most people probably do not carry on them on college campuses or hide them very well @ least.

I've driven through Macon more times than I can count. I don't blame you guys for loving guns. Doesn't look like there'd be anything else to do there

 

[Vryyk]

I understand what you mean and it's just one of those things I'll never really understand about the States.

I can understand why some Americans have guns in their home for self defence purposes, but to walk around a city with a firearm on your person?

How crappy is your town if you feel the need to walk around with a gun?

Where I live there is a reasonable bear population and I like to go through the woods and such where I see them occasionally. I like my concealed revolver for both potential bear-defense and on the off chance that I maim a deer with my car, I can put it out of it's misery (and subsequently put it in to my freezer. As to why I don't open carry, it intimidates people, which is not my goal. See, there can be sound reasons to carry a gun, sound tasty reasons.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I understand what you mean and it's just one of those things I'll never really understand about the States.

I can understand why some Americans have guns in their home for self defence purposes, but to walk around a city with a firearm on your person?

How crappy is your town if you feel the need to walk around with a gun?

Where I live there is a reasonable bear population and I like to go through the woods and such where I see them occasionally. I like my concealed revolver for both potential bear-defense and on the off chance that I maim a deer with my car, I can put it out of it's misery (and subsequently put it in to my freezer. As to why I don't open carry, it intimidates people, which is not my goal. See, there can be sound reasons to carry a gun, sound tasty reasons.

Bear wars, deer euthanasia, and subsequent consumption of said deer are probably the best reason I've heard so far

 

[Marik2]

So you've been to dangerous third world countries, and you were terrified by the fact that there's guns in Amerika? What the fucking hell am I hearing?

Yeah that also made me go wtf

 

[viranimus]

Dunno if anyone else has said it, but yeah its not the guns you see you should worry about, its the ones you dont.

 

[Prosis]

Snip

Where did you go in USA?

I think its a bit judgemental to go to one city, see one man with one gun, and assume that it holds true for the rest of the country. I mean if I go to Australia, and see one person with a rifle or something, does that mean Australia is a gun-happy country?

And contrary to popular belief, you can't just walk around with a gun at your hip in most states(not going to say all, as I'm not entirely positive). And the majority of people don't carry guns. They're kept at home. And to be honest, that doesn't bother me.

 

[Jfswift]

I don't think it's fear related. It's just a cultural thing In the US. Most of us own guns (I have one) although I can see how that would be unnerving to see some random person pull one out at a store. What you saw was kind of inappropriate and would have made me uneasy too. Fortunately most people here don't feel a need to walk around with one in open sight like that. I have to admit though I feel more safe here then in a lot of other countries, mostly because I know the laws here and what to expect. The many gun owners here put my mind at ease. I like knowing if there's an incident someone might be able to take action. (I know someone that prevented a robbery because he had his gun on him).

 

[Twilight_guy]

Depends on which state you're in. States like Texas and Arizona have people carrying around guns all the time. States like California are different and nobody has a gun (unless your in a bad part LA or something). There are also different laws for whether its legal to just have your gun, what constitutes a concealed weapon and such that means their are different levels of legality. I don't understand why people have to have a gun with them to be safe, but then again I don't understand why I feel the need to not carry around cash because it can be stole but I carry credit cards and debit cards that can also get my money stolen without a second thought. Its a different way of life, and from what i hear its not about fear its more like having a knife in the woods, something that you don't clutch to for fear but have for utility and because its useful.