Guns - is it a worry?

I had a comment that maybe with all the guns around that perhaps safety was an issue. So this quick comment is to put anyones mind at rest, yes there are a lot of guns but I doubt its any dramatically different from the US. In Britain where we find it strange to even see airport security armed, (Though after the recent terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow it wont be long till its more common), here it is a way of life. Colombia is a country in turmoil but the comments made about drive by shootings and armed conflict within the major cities is pretty much a thing of the past.

Personally I feel Bogota is every bit as safe as the town I live in, in Scotland and in truth probably more so. I have not seen gangs of kids running wild, I have not been challenged on the way home by drunken teenagers high on drugs or the local cheap wine Buckfast weanting to show how "big" they are, or to show off to their gang mates.
You don't see "neds" walking the streets where I am based, what I do see are young people who are looking to better themselves and hopefully in the process help to improve their country. Yes Colombia has problems but so does UK. Its still early days here but I have to say being street aware and sensible I feel this area of Bogota is far better than areas of Kilwinning. If it is down to the fact that there is a lot of security personel around and that most are armed then it is definitly acting as a deterrent maintaining a peaceful and safe environment.