In the wake of three tragic mass shootings in under a week, targeting crowds shopping for back-to-school supplies and attending outdoor festivals, many countries are warning their citizens about traveling to the U.S., BuzzFeed News reported .
Most prominently, the government of Uruguay issued a stinging statement warning anyone planning a trip to the U.S.
Its warning cited “growing violence” fueled by “racism and discrimination” that American “authorities are unable to prevent” due to “indiscriminate” gun ownership.
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The warning went on to urge Uruguayans to avoid “theme parks, shopping centers, festivals, religious events, gastronomic fairs and any kind of cultural or sporting events. In particular, it is recommended not to go with minors to these places.”
Uruguay’s warning drew some controversy over an inaccuracy.
The statement said that many of the shootings were linked to “hate crimes, including racism and discrimination, which cost the lives of more than 250 people in the first seven months of the year.”
However, the U.S. has not seen 250 deaths directly due to hate crimes so far in 2019 — but 276 people have been killed in 253 mass shootings so far, according to Vox .
It’s unclear if Uruguay might also be responding to a U.S. travel warning.
A few days earlier, the OSAC raised its travel advisory regarding Uruguay to “Exercise increased caution,” saying that “Violent crime, such as homicides, armed robberies, carjacking and thefts have increased throughout the country and occur in urban areas frequented by U.S. government personnel, day and night.”
However, Venezuela also issued a travel warning, and given the tensions between Washington and Caracas, a political jab would be fitting.
Venezuela’s foreign ministry echoed the Uruguayan statement, saying that Venezuelan travelers should watch out for violence, which “lies in the inexcusable indiscriminate possession of firearms by the population,” and suggested avoiding “places where large crowds occur.”
It’s not just South American nations with possible beefs with the U.S. warning their citizens.
Although many, many nations still list the U.S. as a safe place to visit, they’re also cautioning their citizens to be wary.
The Japanese consulate in Detroit, for example, said that “Japanese residents should be aware of the potential for gunfire incidents everywhere in the United States, a gun society, and continue to pay close attention to safety measures” following the Dayton shooting.
Germany also issued a reminder to its citizens.
The German ministry of foreign affairs updated its U.S. travel info, saying that “it is easy to gain possession of weapons, so that it is more common for firearms use and sporadically mass shootings occur.”
One German citizen, 66-year-old Alexander Hoffman, was killed in the El Paso shooting.
A few nations downplayed the risks even as they made note of the possibility of being caught up in a mass shooting.
Canada, for one, said that ” incidents of mass shooting occur, but account for a small percentage of homicide deaths in the country.”
New Zealand merely said that “active shooter incidents occur from time to time in the United States.” Belgium said that the U.S. “presents no particular risk to the traveler” but “as the use of firearms is largely liberalized, crimes are often violent.”
France struck perhaps the softest tone when advising its citizens about traveling to the U.S.
“In many states, possession of firearms is permitted and common,” their statement reads. “Visitors must, in all circumstances, keep calm and cool.”
h/t: BuzzFeed News , CNN
