I'm not American, but moved to Arizona a few years ago to work as a researcher. This is maybe culture-shock, but I have noticed my anxiety has been spiking recently with all the news about shootings and so many Americans seemingly only worried about losing their guns. In the grocery store I have seen multiple times people walking around with guns just while shopping, and people even at my university talk about how Biden is coming for their guns (instead of talking about how scary the mass shooting are).  Others have posted images to their social media of holding and shooting guns right after the recent mass shootings. These are people I see on a weekly basis, and now even going in for work is making me extremely anxious. 

I often get questioned about why I feel uncomfortable, as if it is unreasonable, but maybe because I am not from America and they know that. I find I have to defend myself or explain why being here in Arizona feels scary sometimes.  It seems like I just can't escape it.  Are other Americans just used to this? Does it just become normal after a while?