Gun ownership doesn't make one feel safer

Am I supposed to feel safer with more people owning guns? No way! I am in my 72nd year and beginning to feel very unsafe even here in quiet Iowa.

When my husband and I were in the Peace Corps in Nigeria in the ‘60s, people wondered if we felt safe. The answer was “yes”! Even though Nigeria was in the throws of a civil war, the fighting was not in our area and it was only the military with guns. The people were always very friendly. We did not hear of gun shootings. There was some petty theft, but guns were usually not involved. People didn't have guns.

Later, we went to Uganda when Idi Amin was head of state. Here we did not feel safe. At one point we were held at gunpoint by the military. But, the danger came from the military, not the general public.

Someone recently asked whether we had a gun when we were in Uganda. I was shocked that anyone would think that would have made us safer. If we had a gun, we would have been killed.

Here in the U.S., there are shootings at schools, political rallies, and now in a theater. My neighbors may have guns. Everyone probably knows of someone getting shot because someone else got mad or was disturbed or thought he could protect himself with a gun.

Guns in the hands of anyone who wants one is making my life less safe.

Kathryn Hansen

Iowa City