Thinking Of A Vacation In The USA, But....

[Kalis]

Is the joke being, that you don't fear Sinn Fein/IRA drama where you live but think in America in a city some dude is going to roll up on you and kill you cause we all carry weapons?

He's from Scotland, not Norn Iron.

[Nygma7]

Sure, there is lots of stuff going on here really weird, but nothing to say no to a vacation. Just, maybe try to land on the West Coast, maybe in San Francisco or something?

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend San Fran as a place to avoid the weird. Unless you want him to be able to get the full experience?

- - - Updated - - -

Ive read on these forums, and a few others, the debate over gun control in the USA. There are strong arguments on both sides, and as i have only a distant view of the topic and USA culture as a whole, i have little idea how i would feel about the subject if i was a citizen of the USA. I have often heard the pro-gun lobby argue that they need to own a gun simply to protect them and theirs agains armed criminals.

My question is, is it safe to vacation in the USA? After all, if the people of the USA feel the need to arm themselves against armed criminals, would my family and i be seen as a soft target, easy pickings if you like for those intent on doing harm.

I recommend vacationing somewhere safer, like the Levant. You've seen The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Deadwood, The Wire? It's like that everywhere, all the time here in real life, only not tamed down by the censors.

Hard-eyed men stalk the streets with long-guns on their shoulders, all the women carry .44 magnums in their handbags, and God help you if they don't like the sound of your accent. The poor and uninsured lie dying on the sides of the streets, while fat cat bankers knock the ash from their rolled $100 bill cigars over their heads.

[Ralikon]

never, under any circumstance, no matter what you do, visit Detroit.

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/b2/b2d22...2771022c6c.jpg

[Nygma7]

This. Obviously no one is that thick.

You'd think, but too many posts on this forum make me fear he could be dead serious.

This is even wrong. I've been camping/canoe trips all over the US. Your only danger is getting lost and dying with your body never being discovered.

Hey, you go canoeing in the Okefenokee and you may get eaten by an alligator. Even our wildlife is out of control!

[PickleballAce]

Contrary to popular belief, the US isn't really the Wild Wild West. It's a pretty safe place with pockets of bad spots rather than a dangerous place with some outposts of relative safety.

Now some of that depends on where you are going. Common sense will tell you some places are to be avoided while maybe some others will require a little research.

[Dendrek]

Depends on location and time of day.

If you stick to the daytime and stay in public areas, chances are you won't face any threats.

If it's nightime and you're wandering the streets alone, your risk is much higher.

Could they be seen as targets? Probably... but it depends on how many of you there are, and also how many are around that are solo.

Chances are criminals would go after the lone tourist who seems clueless, not the family of four as - well - that's harder to rob four people with one gun than one person with one gun.

Lol, you make it sound so much scarier than it is.

General advice to the OP: Pick a vacation area, don't go into bad neighborhoods. You'll be fine. The real reason many people in the US own guns is for sport, because it's a tradition, or because they're paranoid. The vast majority never actually have to use them for self defense.

[Mayhem]

Lol, you make it sound so much scarier than it is.

General advice to the OP: Pick a vacation area, don't go into bad neighborhoods. You'll be fine. The real reason many people in the US own guns is for sport, because it's a tradition, or because they're paranoid. The vast majority never actually have to use them for self defense.

yeah, that´s reassuring

[Dendrek]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend San Fran as a place to avoid the weird. Unless you want him to be able to get the full experience?

People don't walk the streets of San Fran is drag. You aren't hit on by every Tom, Dick and Harry. The stereotype you're talking about is limited to select areas in SF.

- - - Updated - - -

yeah, that´s reassuring

Not every American owns a gun, and even those that are paranoid don't actually use them. It's not clinical paranoia, it's "I'm a special snowflake that someone might want to hurt" paranoia, or "If anyone wants to break into my house, I'm ready for them."

[Mayhem]

Not every American owns a gun, and even those that are paranoid don't actually use them. It's not clinical paranoia, it's "I'm a special snowflake that someone might want to hurt" paranoia, or "If anyone wants to break into my house, I'm ready for them."

i know, i should´ve added lol, because i only found it hilarious to read

the top 3 why people own guns in the US:
sports
tradition
paranoia

can´t stop laughing

[Meralus II]

I'm in the process of exchange (Studying abroad in the states for a year) and by far everyone I've talked to says it's safer than you imagine and not to stress. Heck, I reckon Sydney would be more rough (Where I'm from). I just have to decide which bloody college/state I want to be in...now that's the hard part.

I also went to the US a few years ago for a holiday, it's honestly a great place to visit and you will love it.

[Nygma7]

People don't walk the streets of San Fran is drag. You aren't hit on by every Tom, Dick and Harry. The stereotype you're talking about is limited to select areas in SF.

Let's just say I'm betting your odds of seeing weird in SF are significantly higher than being mugged in any other city.

[Dendrek]

i know, i should´ve added lol, because i only found it hilarious to read

the top 3 why people own guns in the US:
sports
tradition
paranoia

can´t stop laughing

D: (I would have said "self defense" but to be honest, I consider the majority of "self defense" people to be paranoid. Most of them live in areas with very little gun violence -- they're probably safer than I am where I live -- and yet they're still afraid of the boogeyman.)

[Kalyyn]

Don't go into poor neighborhoods and America is completely safe.

[Waaldo]

All the propaganda that the US gets is all bullshit. The US is probably the safest place to go on vacation you will ever visit. Just don't visit some trashy poor area. Go to Florida, New York, California or some other nicer, non animalistic, vacation area. I live in a very nice part of Florida with a lot of tourism and the last time anything bad happened here was pretty much never. Don't watch the news and just assume that everywhere you go in the US you're going to see a shoot out, I'm sure we have heard much worse things about your country.

[Fortera]

Stay away from downtown NY, any hardcore southern state like SC, Washington DC, Maryland, Detroit and ghetto areas of NC and you might not end up watching a gang of wannabe gangbangers rape your wife and blow your kids away with handguns. Think I'm kidding? Google if you lack the real life experience of living in shitty US states. Stay away from Detroit if you listen to anything I've said here. The US is painted as a place that's equally violent with the rest of the world but it's fallen into disarray.

[lockedout]

I doubt you're going to run into people having gun wars while you're here.

Unless you're in Newark, NJ. Just avoid that place.

No where near as bad as Detroit.

- - - Updated - - -

Stay away from downtown NY

Clearly you've never been to NY.
Unless you're afraid of gays hipsters and heroin addicts.
Now if you said uptown like harlem or washington heights you MAY have an argument.

[OzoAndIndi]

My question is, is it safe to vacation in the USA? After all, if the people of the USA feel the need to arm themselves against armed criminals, would my family and i be seen as a soft target, easy pickings if you like for those intent on doing harm.

The majority of the country would be safe to visit, just stay out of what feels like a bad area.

Whether they'd like me saying it or not, a lot of people have become far more paranoid over their "need" to own a gun, esp more than one, than what is actually necessary in most areas.

[Rob D]

As others say: keep in your hotel and touristy spots. They should be safe enough. Don't go exploring or on an adventure.
Every big city can be dangerous, you can be also mugged in London, Berlin, Paris, Sydney or smaller towns. The best weapon against that is common sense.

And as a german who immigrated into Central Ohio almost 13 years ago: I've never felt I had to get me a gun to protect me.

[lockedout]

And as a german who immigrated into Central Ohio almost 13 years ago: I've never felt I had to get me a gun to protect me.

You're in central Ohio.

[poser765]

You're in central Ohio.

I'll take it one step farther. I've lived in the US my entire life. Born and raised in Oklahoma. Don't let that full you. In my line of work I've spent a lot of time in MANY different cities. Tonight I am in Cleveland. Last night I was in Pittsburgh, Lots of time in Newark, Chicago, Detroit, Washington DC, Dallas, Miami, Boston, and well most major cities you can think of. I've been to all but TWO of the states in the continental US. I've wished I had a gun with me exactly ZERO times. Not once.