The Right to Bear Arms ... on Campus

>> I admit that I don't understand why in a country that isn't in a serious crisis (disaster, civil war or the like), an average citizen would ave te need to carry a gun to feel safe...<<

If you have a gun, you can use it to defend yourself against home robbery, mugging, carjacking, rape, and other violent crimes. These are commonly cited as reasons why individuals choose to carry a gun. The campus shooter is a more recent addition.

While America is not currently embroiled in civil war, it is considerably below my standards for a safe/sane/functional society. I can easily understand why people feel threatened and wish to go armed for personal protection.

>> do you know where I could find data about the incidence of rape in the U.S.? I wonder at the difference of 'perception of average risk' I notice between here and there <<

America has a relatively high rate of rape and other sexual crimes, especially for a developed nation. Furthermore, campus environments are among the most prone to this type of crime. Some statistics may be found at:
http://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
http://www.paralumun.com/issuesrapestats.htm