It was appalling to learn this past weekend that Chattanooga had suffered its ninth homicide of the year.
Obviously, one death from criminal violence is deplorable, but nine violent deaths in the city in less than three and a half months is shocking.
Most recently, Aaron L. Burton, 39, was found shot to death in his Windsor Street home. The circumstances leading to the slaying are uncertain, but Burton himself had pleaded guilty in 1996 to a charge of second-degree murder.
Besides the homicides, nearly two dozen people had been injured by gunfire in Chattanooga as of April 8.
Clearly, the greatest concern is and should be for the innocent people - including two Chattanooga police officers - who have been killed or wounded, as well as for others who may be threatened by reckless or malicious violence.
But the damage doesn't end there.
While the areas of Chattanooga that attract the most tourists are generally safe, a city can nonetheless get a bad reputation if it is plagued by violence in any part of town.
That can scare off potential businesses, tourists and individuals who may wish to move to the city, and that has economic implications for everyone.
There are, sadly, no easy answers.
The police can beef up patrols in one area, but with resources limited, that can reduce coverage of other areas. And considering the brazen nature of some of the shootings, even a strong police presence in troubled areas may not deter some violent criminals.
Plainly, the penalties for violent crime should be severe, particularly for repeat offenders. But with law enforcement limited by scarce resources, the duty falls in part on the public to be the "eyes and ears" of the community. It may not be terribly original to say it, but we all have a responsibility to be on the lookout for suspicious activity and to report it promptly.
That just might save a life.