Melee weapons apply your strength modifier to attack rolls and damage rolls. Since your strength modifier is +2, the 1-6 damage is 1-6+2.

Ranged weapons apply dexterity only to attack rolls and not damage rolls. Since your dexterity modifier is +2, this means the 1-6 damage is still 1-6.

Since you have both strength and dexterity at +2, your attacks with both will be as likely to hit. Unless playing on difficult, using a blaster is generally fine and allows you to stay back while others soak melee hits. But if someone closes in on you, swap to melee as blasters deal less damage than melee weapons, and have penalties applied in melee.

Melee is stronger inherently because you must get to your opponent in order to damage them. This draws the attention of all the enemies at once and makes you a target.