During the Iowa caucuses in 2008, I was discussing Barack Obama's chances of winning the nomination with an old friend of mine living in Geneva. He said: "I think most Europeans would be happy about Barack winning the nomination, but we don't think he will make it."

They thought there was a good chance he would be assassinated.

Later, professional research verified Europeans' preference for Obama. This was after eight years of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice.

Many developed countries perceive the U.S to be full of academically undernourished gunslingers. Thankfully, Obama made it and has just won a second term. But with the recent carnage in Connecticut, the memory of that conversation came back to me. Pray for our political leaders.

John P. McLaughlin

Hilton Head Island