Do you believe the United States is a safe place to live?

Question

I currently live in Turkey and I got a job offer from United States but when I think about living there, i feel nervous.

I never faced with racism i dont know if i can handle that and i know there is A LOT of people who owns gun there. I think can't feel safe while there are people around me with gun in their houses...

PS: Sorry for my bad English, you don't need to be mean about it...

ShiftingMonke · Accepted Answer

I decided to check the comments before adding my two cents, just to see if I could actually add anything new to the conversation.

What I see is OP's hyper fixation on only 2 primary concerns- gun crime, and racism. There are many, many comments reassuring OP that America isn't nearly as racist as one might believe, and that gun crime is extremely localized to certain areas of certain activity. This information isn't anecdotal, as there are plenty of studies available online that can back up the claims from other users assuring OP that she's not at risk of being insulted or shot.

It would appear that if OP isn't trolling, and is fact truly coming to America to live, I'm going to contribute this instead:

OP, you're gonna have a bad time here. If you consistently meet good and honest Americans who are happy to experience an exotic and new person, and instead ask them why they're racist or gun toting murderers, you will quickly find yourself avoided. Not threatened or murdered or anything of the sort- but if I were to look up the worst 1% of your home country, and then visit while not only assuming but actively ASSURING the residents that they are all the same as the extreme 1%, you could easily say that I'd have a rough go of it as well.

The best thing you can do is abandon all of your preconceived notions about what America is or isn't, and bear in mind that each US state functions very much like their own country. Almost like the EU, if that's what your familiar with; everyone uses the same money, but crossing a river or imaginary line brings you into a drastically different set of laws, beliefs, cultures, and accents. Americans are as diverse culturally and politically as any other group of people. And if you come here with a sense of superiority and assure the good folks around you that you know more about their culture than they know of it themselves, you are not going to be met with open arms. Some of the most wholesome and generous people live right smack dab in the middle of America but you'd never know that with your opinions of them pushed in front of you like a cloud of stink.

I wish you the best of luck with your change of scenery.

ObscuredBeyond · Accepted Answer

You'll be fine, as long as you don't linger too long in:

Detroit (Murdertown Jr.)
Flint (Everything Wrong You Can Imagine)
Dearborn (Maybe it's ISIS, maybe not)
Downtown Grand Rapids, MI (Cocaine Town)
Milwaukee (Murdertown III)
Chicago (Murdertown Sr.)
LA (Murdertown IV)
New York (Open Air Mental Asylum)
Ashville, NC (Thief Town)
most anywhere else in North Carolina (they're just plain nuts)
Leesburg, FL (Coked-Up Machete Man Town)
Fruitland Park, FL (Drugs and More Drugs)
any part of Arizona (The State of Lawlessness)
Houston (Fascist Hellhole)
Any border town in Texas (El Chapo wasn't as bad as what replaced him)
Baton Rouge (Gumbo and voodoo and guns, oh my!)
Any woke city, like Portland or Seattle (ironic racism, but it's "okay" when they do it!)
Washington, DC (Corruption Hath a Name!)

Also, if you're in Bozeman, don't do anything to annoy the local Amish. They get feisty, and don't hesitate to shoot if they think you're messing with their land.

If not for these festering rat holes mentioned above, you should be safe most anywhere else. Maybe not Philadelphia or Atlanta, or Indianapolis. Screw those towns too.

But most everywhere else, you shouldn't have to worry about random shooters or any dangerous displays of racism-based gangs. Not white ones, anyway. East Lansing was a pretty safe place, until just recently. One random lunatic has everyone there questioning that status quo.

In spite all the gun hysteria, the actual top murder weapon in America is a hammer. Followed in second place by baseball bats. Women prefer to use algaecide and antifreeze as murder weapons. (Or Lysol, if you believe internet jokes from 2020.)

Also, be mindful that if you see police trying to pull you over, you stop before they reach the railroad tracks. You don't want to be that one-in-a-million case where the officer is dumb enough to put you in the back of a patrol car parked on the tracks, and then leave you there unattended. Yes, that actually happened.

desidoll · Accepted Answer

I am moving there in a week and feel somewhat like you. I live in Malaysia where guns are under full control and men here are not as aggressive. I watched a lot of their documentaries where you can randomly get shot in the street, parks, shopping malls or train. I know I will miss my country a lot but I have no choice because I am marrying someone from there.

Haha456 · Accepted Answer

if you look white , you will end up being fine. It doesn't matter if you don't speak English. You have a much higher likelihood of facing racism if you do not look white.

secondly, our cost of living is ridiculously high. If you have a comfortable living with a good paying job in your country, I suggest life stay where you are. It is VERY expensive here.

burlen · Answer

The United States of America is generally considered a safe place to live. However, like any country, there are areas that are safer than others, and there are certain types of crimes that are more prevalent in certain regions.

The United States has a relatively high crime rate compared to some other developed countries, but the crime rate has been declining in recent years. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program, the overall crime rate in the US decreased by 5.1% from 2019 to 2020, largely due to decreases in property crime and larceny-theft.

That being said, there are certain types of crime that continue to be a concern in some areas of the country, such as gun violence and homicide. Note that crime rates can vary from year to year and can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as population density, poverty, drug use, and more.

Some areas that are often cited as having higher crime rates and being less safe include:

Detroit, Michigan
St. Louis, Missouri
Memphis, Tennessee
Baltimore, Maryland
Birmingham, Alabama
Oakland, California
Stockton, California
Cleveland, Ohio
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

However, there are some areas that are generally considered to be among the safest in the country. According to some sources, some of the safest places to live in the US include:

Ridgefield, Connecticut
Zionsville, Indiana
Carmel, Indiana
Weston, Florida
Sammamish, Washington
Lexington, Massachusetts
Bernards Township, New Jersey
Franklin, Tennessee
Greenwich, Connecticut
Hopkinton, Massachusetts

CheeseMonster · Answer

Before you go, look up crime statistics. If the job is in a specific city/area, see if that area is listed as a dangerous area. There are many articles like "top 10 most dangerous cities " or "top 10 safest cities" or studies with maps that show where gun violence is the highest and lowest. Also maybe check traffic; some cities are far more dangerous to drive in than others, because of population density or driver aggression. Checking things like the dominant political party, homelessness levels, and frequency of natural disasters could also be helpful.

Basically, I've lived in one 30-mile circle my whole life, and the only crime I've been victim of was my truck being stolen. But this is also one of the top 10 cities for human trafficking, and a grocery store in town has missing people posters by the door. Your experience can vary drastically person to person. So it's best to look at statistics more than personal experience. That said, if you can make friends or get in contact with people before moving there, it is the best idea to have a network when you arrive. They may know what areas specifically are safer or more dangerous. Or they can just give you a heads up on what store carries your brand of hair spray or that a particular road isn't updated on Google maps. Good luck whatever you decide.

DarkWinterNights · Answer

People hyper-focus on racism in the United States and blow it out of proportion, but the reality is the US may be the least racist country in the world. Homogenized European countries who claim to be tolerant and embrace diversity tend to have some of the most racist viewpoints.
In terms of rates of violence, America is pretty middle of the pack. Media and activists like to separate “gun violence” from other types to make it look worse than it is, but really- is being stabbed to death worse than being shot and dying? Most places are relatively safe as long as you aren’t putting yourself in harms way with substance abuse, dealing and gang stuff. Avoid some of the larger cities and you should be fine. Also if you become a citizen you can exercise your right to own a firearm for self defense. If you do it legally and responsibility it’s very empowering.
America definitely has a lot of problems, and they’re starting to catch up with us, but the whole world is destabilizing. I wouldn’t let these concerns impact your decision.

lightbulb27 · Answer

you should do it.

may depend where the job is. Most places I've been are very international. if there's international airport, there's many nationalities. I meet so many people that want to come here and do, and most thrive. they love it and they don't leave.

Some areas can be dangerous in each city so I am smart or more cautious in some areas. but that's true in france, brazil, most countries.

There aren't guns everywhere. The media makes our country look like a crazy place. It isn't. But as well, you want to move to a safe neighborhood where people care.

I've not seen racism against turkish people, the racism is over blown. Most people are very reasonable.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I think US get's a bad rap for being considered unsafe. I blame it on the news networks mostly, they seem to sell glorify bad things and make it seem like you'll be mugged wherever you go.

I am sure there are some rough areas in the majority of US cities, as long as you avoid those areas I am sure you will be fine. That being said , I am sure there are some rough parts in certain cities within Turkey, that you know to avoid.

It is no different anywhere else, we have some high crime areas in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, etc. in Canada that should be avoided as well.

Wherever you end up, just talk to the people you work with and they'll likely tell you where it is safe and where it isn't.

It's the same all over. Good luck and enjoy your new job if you accept it.

Anonymous · Answer

Just today I found out that a relative of mine is in critical condition due the MSU mass shooter incident.

I didn’t want to bring up race because I didn’t believe the shooting was racially motivated. The shooter was black but he wasn’t part of any radical organizations and one of his victims is black.

However after reading the heinously disgusting comment that @haha456 wrote about “if you look white you should be okay….” I decided to say something on race.

haha456 as a close relative to a innocent young white…yes a completely innocent white young man I pray for you as much as I pray for him. Your so called “anti racism” is doing nothing but creating REAL racism. Your self serving attitude does have consequences to society. It’s not worth the momentary sugar high you get for whatever reason. THINK before you speak.

Just imagine if you said something like that to my relative’s parents. Just saying “oh he’s white so it’s okay”. Just imagine.

abc3643 · Answer

This website was FOUNDED by a Turkish immigrant who now lives in the Saint Louis, Missouri area.

You will be fine.
Your only real problem would be if you are very obviously Muslim and move to a part of the USA which can be bigoted towards Muslims.

XHopelessRomanticX · Answer

It depends on where you live. Don’t be afraid of people owning guns, don’t be afraid to own a gun either. Ironically, it’s the cities with the most gun control that have the most gun violence. Think of it this way; If all your neighbors own guns, criminals are less likely to visit.

Yes racism exists, just like it does in every other country, but it’s not as prevalent as people will lead you to believe. Most people in the US are friendly.

BeMuse · Answer

If you're that much of a chicken stay where you're at. America doesn't need more weak people. Life expectancy in the USA are roughly equivalent to Turkey. Obviously people survive all these irrational fears you have just as well in the USA as people do in Turkey.

Guy13 · Answer

A Safe place is to say that there is an Utopia which is a fallacy outside of the fairyland inside our own heads. If there was a Safe Place then there would be no death or destruction in any form. Safety is relative and there are multiple mass school shooting in the developing world (Thailand) too.

Anonymous · Answer

I think you'll be ok. I don't think it's anywhere near as much of an issue as some make it out to be. Don't let the fear mongering get to you.

If you can help it, stay away from the cities, thats where most of this stuff happens. If you can't, stay away from the bad areas because that's where people with guns are most likely to be using them.

Guns are nothing more than inanimate objects much like a hammer or a saw, the side a gun takes depends on the person holding it.

As for racism, I think you are far more likely to get it from the individual level. The fear mongerers want you to think that institutional racism isn't criminalized but it has been for nearly 60 years.

Drumlin2001 · Answer

No. The weather events that seem to be getting more severe and the gun violence/political unrest that seems to be getting more extreme and out of control. I barely want to visit let alone live there. For me, Europe is safer. Germany/France/Spain/Portugal

Friendlybro79 · Answer

I'm truly sorry about your concerns. We're not all bad but some of what you say is true. I can't say you won't encounter some of what you said especially if in a red state that's not used to seeing non white people that aren't Christian. That doesn't mean all people in a red state are this way just the norm for them.

genericname85 · Answer

i don't know if you ever heard of bald and bankrupt. he's a youtuber who traveled a lot of the poorest and shittiest places in the world. like lot's of former sowiet states, some south American... and he said the most unsafe he ever felt was in USA xD

Anonymous · Answer

There are probably a lot of countries that are safer to live in than the US. Legal gun ownership here means there will always be a steady supply for the illegal black market. Gun crimes and violence have always been a problem here and will be for the foreseeable future. Racism has also been a constant throughout US history. While there is definitely economic opportunity here, it does come at a cost.

Anonymous · Answer

The racism thing is overblown by the media. And it depends where you live also and what type of work you'll be doing. If you are working with mostly educated people, odds are you won't face racism. Most people in the US are used to people of different cultures. Unlike what the media makes it look like. And also, like someone else mentions on here, check out the crime statistics for the area that you want to move to.

Twalli · Answer

There is a lot if gun violence here, but we're also a really big country in people and landmass. I think you should look ar the place you would be working. If it's an inner city then you may be right to be a bit nervous, but if it isn't a huge city, or if it's in the suburbs, then you should be fine

PainusNdeeAnus · Answer

The north east is just a ton of shady cities with even shady-er people

the midwest is rural so there’s a lot of trump supporters

the south isn’t that bad the nice people are really nice but the racist people are really fucking racist

The south west isn’t bad either the people are just super weird think hippies in the desert

DizzyDesii · Answer

Despite all the bad things that happen from time to time regarding racism, natural disasters and mass shootings, yes. I never intend to live outside of the USA (well perhaps Canada but unlikely)

samuluaa · Answer

Compared to a lot of other countries it doesn’t seem safe. Pretty much all European countries seem safer than the USA. England, Canada, New Zealand and Australia also seem safer than the USA.

AviatorTom · Answer

No place is ever 100% safe, and every country, state, city and town has areas that are safer than others. Overall, the United States is a safe place to live and work, especially if you pick areas that are safer than others.

NewtoTheSouth · Answer

There are about 5 murders per 100,000 people in the USA. That is roughly average around the world. It's about 2.5 in Turkey. Just avoid the bad areas and you will be fine.

NostalgiaSenpi · Answer

I've never been a victim of a crime or even assault outside of school. There are safe and unsafe areas everywhere in the world. I usually keep to myself and thankfully haven't faced much in terms of that.

exitseven · Answer

As long as you stay out of democrat run cities you are pretty safe.

Cassie88 · Answer

You're better off staying in Turkey because you're right, every lunatic over there has a gun.

alice55 · Answer

I think America is safer than France cause you have a right to carry weapons and to defend yourself in France we do not have those rights.

Pinkspark · Answer

It depends where you live in the US. Large cities generally have areas of higher crime than the suburban or rural areas. In general, I would consider it very safe to live here.

Pyrofox · Answer

Hell nah US ain't safe. A lot of the police in the US are as bad as the gangsters ROFL.

noohair · Answer

There are dangerous and safe places in every country. All you see is the bad news. I live in Central Florida about 35 miles from Orlando and it is calm and peaceful. Where is the prospective job located?

Anonymous · Answer

Unless you hide out in a small country town in the middle of nowhere, you will never be safe in the USA. I grew up there and moved to another country, and it was the best move I have ever made.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

The U. S. is mostly safe as long you stay out of dangerous neighborhoods and use your brain to stay out of trouble. Do you have family here?

Anonymous · Answer

Really depends on where you live in terms of safety.

In terms of racism, the US is one of the least racist countries in the world. Certainly most Asian countries are going to be far, FAR more racist.

Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

Well I'll put it this way. There's an infinitely less chance of a building falling on you here (unless it was flown into by someone from there). Use a little common sense. Avoid taking a job in an are with higher than avg. crime.

mattclark242 · Answer

I don't know they got spy stuff going on right now,

Cubus · Answer

Compared to Europe - no, it's not safe. At least compared to Eastern Europe, because Western is slowly becoming USA on that issue.

Stevefiveo · Answer

Most of America is safe. Some big cities have a high crime rate though.

Anonymous · Answer

It depends where you live. Are you a Habib wearing Muslim? If so, you'll have a problem in some places.

Anonymous · Answer

The US is safer than most other countries. Source, I've been here 39 years, and never, not once have been in fear of my safety.

Anonymous · Answer

Are you kidding? Maybe if you're white and well off.

DiegoO · Answer

No idea, but for some reason, I rather Canada and Europe, over the US.

Kelly6 · Answer

Not anymore  as they started to show their true color of hate.

Alex8736 · Answer

I grew up in the urban city and went to public schools so yes it's safe

Petr87 · Answer

Apart from actual war zones, it's the most unsafe place on Earth.

Vaporvan · Answer

I wouldn't live there, but I've never been so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

LimitedBenefits101 · Answer

Would have been the greatest country in the world if the left didn't exist.

Cheerfull009 · Answer

Not a safe place, two much shootings in schools, colleges and universities, as yesterday, shooting In Michigan University, killing 3 students

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

I know it is been here all of my life and I don't even have a scratch

WhiteBoyChill · Answer

Avoid certain places but mostly its pretty safe. Especially if you live in a small town

Anonymous · Answer

if you look white , you will end up being fine.

handsomeblackoutlaw · Answer

Ask Michigan State students how safe their campus, let alone their country, is.

HowardB · Answer

No it’s not, these mentally I’ll white bits are trigger happy

Nuthouse · Answer

To be frank I don’t think anywhere is safe to live anymore

Gummy_Cluster · Answer

What visa do you have?

Anonymous · Answer

As long is your not in Texas. 🤠 J/K don’t.

pacman97 · Answer

Absolutely not, The USA is failure to live.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

Yes most of the USA is safe

AsaKyo · Answer

Not really lmao

DaveToo · Answer

It depends on WHERE you live and HOW you live.

sadgirl0210 · Answer

Tbh no where is safe to live

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