Are parts of the United States unsafe for vacation tourism? A number of Australian activists have answered Yes to that question, advising their fellow citizens—in a widely publicized statement—to avoid traveling to the United States because of the prevalence of gun violence here.
And thus, the concern of many Americans about traveling to unsafe areas in Europe and the Middle East, is now being felt by a substantial number of foreign residents considering a trip to the United States. They cite, as supporting their fears, the almost daily news about gunfire injuring or even killing individuals unlucky enough to be in conflict situations or—more horrifying—the murder of multiple students in college or school settings or the killing of nine churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina.
It would be ironic if the arguments for gun control were to be bolstered by the dollar-and-cents impact that gun violence has on discouraging foreign, touristic visits to the United States (which bring us billions of dollars of income each year). And yet, that additional connection should be part of the dialogue, pro and con, with respect to gun control. Consider, for instance, that some states permit concealed weapons to be brought into bars—bars serving alcoholic beverages. Other states permit people to openly display weapons they carry with them in holsters on open view.
Will the lack of gun control have an adverse impact on tourism to the United States? Will we acquire a reputation as being unsafe for foreign visitors? When, as will inevitably happen, a tourist is killed or injured by a stray bullet or because an instance of "road rage" has led to a shooting, or for any other of the reasons why weapons are fired, will the publication of such incidents persuade a large number of would-be visitors from coming here—and thus affecting the income of all those small businesses that depend on tourism? Will Americans, for that matter, also travel less to those states where gun controls are absent?
I'd like to hear the viewpoints on this, both pro and con, from visitors to this website.
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