For local evidence that American nerves are frayed over the prevalence of guns and gun violence in our lives, look no further than Hamilton Place mall on last week's busy Saturday night.
It began with an argument outside a store. It ended with a warrant for an 18-year-old's arrest on a charge of aggravated riot.
It was what happened in between - when people ran screaming out of the mall and social media reports falsely claimed multiple casualties - that gave grim testimony to our growing fear and paranoia. Consider these social media posts that began shortly after 6 in the evening:
» "me & [a friend] were at hamilton place mall when there was a shooting. we heard the gunshots. ... it was the most terrifying experience of my life. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE MALL W MY FRIENDS W/OUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THIS."
» "We were at Hamilton place mall. there was a fight right beside us. then a guy that was carrying pulls his gun out and shouts 'drop your weapon' then shots[sic], then we got out."
» "Was just in the middle of a shootout at Hamilton Place mall in Chattanooga. Unbelievable. Anarchy. I can't even begin to describe the absolute terror I saw in people's eyes. Wow. #HamiltonPlaceShootout
» "Never thought I'd be inside of Hamilton place mall with an active shooter inside. ... scariest thing of my life."
» "My mom and I were at the Hamilton Place mall earlier today when all of a sudden we heard people yelling "run." I looked back, there was chaos and this lady said there was a shooting. I took my mothers hand and we sprinted out. I've never been more frightened in my entire life."
The mall was evacuated and locked down. Police did find a gun in the parking lot and a shell casing. But officers said it is unclear if the casing was related to the incident. Officials said video footage captured by cameras in the mall showed the incident began with a large fight which escalated when the named suspect waved a firearm, Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy said Monday.
The suspect also faces warrants charging him with altering a firearm's identification, unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. The riot charge stems from minor injuries sustained by a girl who fell to the ground in a rush to get out of the building. Witnesses told police that several people shouted "Gun! He has a gun!" which escalated the panic.
Roddy said wild posts on social media of casualties added gas to the fire.
Clearly, more guns - now banned on posted private property like the mall - won't help.
And clearly, the wildfire known as social media doesn't help either. Even the police were unsure for a time by the onslaught of those panicked and incorrect reports. Flashing blue lights surrounded the mall, and 911 call logs at the time showed reports of "active shooter at the mall."
We shouldn't be surprised.
Parkland, Fla., families have just finished burying 17 students and teachers killed when a real active shooter strode into a high school with a AR-15 and began shooting.
Within days, our president began calling for armed teachers in all of our schools. When the president of the United States calls for a Wild West gunslinger-like approach to school safety, why wouldn't we be curling into fetal positions as those social media posts began rolling over our cellphones at our Saturday night parties or quiet dinners at home?
Somehow we have to reclaim our country - and our composure.
Georgia, one of the most gun-friendly states in the nation, has made a beginning with proposals to tighten some of its gun laws, including background check extensions (beyond five years) for those involuntarily committed for mental health treatment. Georgia also will look at taking guns from those convicted of domestic abuse misdemeanors, along with banning assault rifles and bump stocks.
Tennessee lawmakers, on the other hand, seem quite intent on making guns easier to have and carry. They want to reduce the misdemeanor fines (from $500 to $250) for carrying without a permit in Tennessee, despite criticism from the governor's office, a sheriffs' association and a gun law reform group. The move would effectively permit permit-less carry.
Tennessee also will consider lowering the age limit to obtain a carry permit from 21 to 18 for some teens - military service members. And our lawmakers are thinking of permitting businesses to allow concealed weapons but not open carry, allowing people to carry handguns in airports and allowing a person to challenge a government entity that refuses to make property available for Second Amendment activities.
But we - and Hamilton Place mall - dodged another bullet earlier this month. On Feb. 14, with news breaking of the Florida school shooting, a Tennessee legislative subcommittee rejected a proposal to allow handgun carry permit holders to take their weapons almost anywhere in Tennessee - including onto private property like the mall which now is posted as gun-free. The rejected proposal, similar to a previously introduced bill dubbed "carry-like-a-cop" legislation, would have allowed a permit holder to carry a gun anywhere except judicial proceedings and, under certain conditions, on school grounds.
Perhaps we need to transfer some fear and paranoia to our lawmakers. At the voting booth.