I've been feeling depressed a lot lately about my lack of a love life. My current long distance relationship has been a soul sucking miserable experience for longer than I'd like to admit. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart and I've been struggling with the paralyzing fear that I'll never be able to let someone close to my heart again.

I know what it's like(apart from a long distance relationship).I've long since given up on ever having a relationship.My last one was 9 years ago,I've had 3 dates since then which is pretty feeble.I hope things improve for you

I was expecting something else, considering the title...

Well I am NOT gun shy, not in the least! 

Oh, not that kind of gun..

Well I've been there, even trying to fit in as a cis guy. I just don't know, I couldn't hit it off with many people. I'm too short, too nerdy, too ugly I guess.

a lot of people go to gun shows, you  might find a hot pistol there.

Don't worry too much about it then.  Focus on friendships for now.  I find that love without friendship is useless anyway, so you might as well make some friends.

I agree with Rose.

Start out being friends first then if you do not want to take a chance with losing the friend, stay friends  as having a close friend is very important. If you will take the chance then you could end up with someone who loves you.

As in some quote I had heard: Nothing ventured nothing won.