Robert Young Pelton routinely lists the US as one of his World's Most Dangerous places in his books of the same name because of the high level of "gun violence". It's not cowardice to be concerned about your safety, especially if one is a tourist in a nation.
Personally, I would seriously reconsider going to places in the US with insane gun laws that allow for people to carry weapons in public and kill other people.
That is a sensible economic choice, which may soak in to the legislators if they start losing tourist cash.
See also:
Stray bullet wounds man, kills woman in Helen, Ga. | www.ajc.com
