GL: alarmed at firearms comments

[Jonah Jones]

HI
new to list.
My wife and I are undertaking the loop next Spring
We are both alarmed and disheartened by the perceived necessity to 
carry firearms.
We are British and not from a gun culture in the personal protection 
sense.
We have been to the States many many times and have a  home there, and 
never felt endangered.
Do we need to reappraise our personal safety measures in some areas we 
will be going through?
Do we need to be wary of side trips up lonely rivers?
I heard a comment recently that as many as 100, 000 US citizens have 
been killed by firearms in the last 5 years, not sure if its true.
Hence our concern.

regards Jonah.