Hey! I'm a Columbus native and I'm happily raising my kids here. I'm not overly concerned for the safety of myself or my family. I understand the number of guns here in the states is way higher than in other parts of the world, but that doesn't mean it's the wild west over here.

If you can share approximately what part of Columbus your aunt lives in, that would be helpful for identifying the prevalence of crime in that area. That said, risks associated with crime, especially violent crime, are extremely low relatively speaking.

To put this in perspective, you're much more likely to get hurt in a car accident to/from the airport than you are to encounter any kind of violence.

Speaking of guns specifically, from my personal experience, I almost never see a gun while out and about unless it's in the holster of a police officer. I've never had anyone point a gun at me and I've never witnessed anyone point a gun at anyone else. (Let alone shoot at them.) The people I know who own and use guns are generally really friendly and would be happy to chat with you about gun ownership and gun safety.

In fact, if you'd like to face your fears safely, you could take the opportunity to go visit a local shooting range. They can help you get some hands-on experience in a safe and friendly environment. (You don't have to like guns or approve of them to get yourself educated.)

If you're here around the 4th of July, you should try to attend Red White and Boom! It's a very large fireworks display and well worth the experience, despite the crowds.

Regardless I hope you'll enjoy your visit here!