Exploring Differences in Spanish and U.S Culture: Gun Violence, by Katy McDonald

When I was preparing to come to Spain I was constantly worried about liking the food, speaking the language, making new friends, and doing well in my classes. Although there were so many things that I expected would be just too different in this new culture, there was one thing about Spain that I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about: guns. In the United States, citizens have access to fully automatic weapons and gun violence is one of the leading causes of deaths each year. A lot of the controversy surrounding the debate on guns has to do with the Second Amendment in our Constitution which states that citizens have the right to bear arms, but more often than not this “right” leads to the deaths of thousands of people nationwide. In my home state, Colorado, there have been 7 mass shootings in common places like movie theaters, schools, and health centers. For many people, including myself, being in small or crowded spaces or hearing loud sounds can create a sense of fear or anxiety about the possibility of being a victim to gun violence. After spending almost four months in Spain (and traveling around Europe in general), I have noticed that I don’t have those same feelings of fear when walking on the street, entering a mall, seeing a movie, or going to a bar. Spain is much stricter about its gun policies and there is not the same perceived threat here of gun violence as there is in the U.S. Going to different places and even just walking down the street feels much safer because I know that the chance of being in a shooting is very low. Just knowing that the citizens of Spain cannot carry automatic weapons and most likely do not have guns in their homes or on their person is enough to create a safer feeling overall. When I return to the U.S I think that readjusting to that feeling of insecurity towards my safety and well-being will be one of the hardest aspects of leaving Spain. As a student of psychology and as someone living abroad, I think that exploring topics like safety and perceptions of violence are very interesting in how they differ from one country to another.