The US State Department is always ridiculously alarmist. I never pay attention to their warnings until after I have also checked the UK and Canadian Foreign Office travel sites, and sometimes Australia as well. It is an old cliche that if the US State Dept. wrote a warning for the US no one would visit.

'This is a completely normal thing to do and a silly thing to make fun of.'

Normal in the US, silly and to be made fun of in Europe.

I'm European, so I find it completely silly. Different cultures I guess...

Finding it silly and making fun of the person for asking are two separate things. You can find it silly all you want without making fun of the person.

In a contest of silly I think making fun is sillier than asking. And I don't think it's an American vs European thing. I know Europeans that would agree. Just like there are Americans that would agree with you.

I was not making fun of the OP.

I'm making fun of the 'authorities' for issue such a worthless statement. We don't (yet) get such statements from our states just to put them in a safe situation : nobody in his right mind would (yet) sue the government for not repeating that it is a bad idea to travel, should something occur in foreign countries.

Well if you weren't making fun of the op never mind. I misunderstood, I hope the OP didn't. Make fun of my government all you want.

I too am surprised at the "sue the government" explanation.. I used to think Americans think about suing everyone for everything and this just proved my point. I did not know you even COULD sue your government.

I would be more nervous about travel to Orlando, Fl.

OMG, go, it is called an adventure!
When we let THEM control our choices THEY win.

Have a look at the UK Foreign Office advice on terrorism in the USA. Also look at their advice on Safety and Security.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/terrorism

As an American living in Europe, I've always felt safer here than in my home country.

@ Limmy: You are right! its just a technicality. However, when you have not visited a place ever before, you'd like to ask those living there too....they know best... that's all...I am NOT cancelling my trip at all... its like people saying Costa Rica has high crime and violence and I go there every summer and I have never ever experienced anything like it.

BTW, I had things stolen from me while I was at Disney once.... ugh! I probably perspired my lack of desire to be there and got "punished"....LOL

I suspect the fear of a Trump President has finally made even the US government raise the terror alert.

Yes, it's "blonde" now. Worse than orange.

Trump is now a tall gorgeous blonde ?

<i>However, when you have not visited a place ever before, you'd like to ask those living there too....they know best... that's all...</i>

Silly.

How local people could know better than you when and where the next terrorist attack will occur ? 102 out of 130 victims (speaking only of the dead) of the Paris attack of last November were French.

<i>its like people saying Costa Rica has high crime and violence and I go there every summer and I have never ever experienced anything like it.</i>

I don't know if Costa Rica has high crime or not but the fact that nothing bad happened to you proves absolutely nothing. You're not a statistic.

I travelled for 3 weeks in Afghanistan in 2003. I was not killed, kidnapped, mugged.. Everything went well but I would be an idiot to say that it is a safe travel destination.

@ Askar since you are here to analyze my comments, I should say that common said to me to ask locals to ask how things "look" over there.... Im not silly, that's why this forum is here for...TO ASK QUESTIONS...and if you are annoyed by it why are you here anyway.
I dont understand why when one wants to ask a simple question and need a simple answer one get bashed....
Peace out

ticalinda, you're the one who said you feel silly asking this question. As someone who lives in Europe, all I can say is things look pretty damn silly where you live these days, dangerous even.

Nothing dangerous or silly ever happens in Europe now that you live there. St. Cirq?

Nope. No mass shooting in Schools.

Wow...Im in shock how mean minded some people can be...
@ Whathello I live 30 min from where that shooting happened, I am also a teacher and I have small children.... you are a sick weirdo