As most Chattanoogans and other Americans were enjoying the Fourth of July weekend in peace, recalling our historic Declaration of Independence that sought personal freedom for all of us in our wonderful country, a tragic rash of violent events in Chattanooga left one man dead and half a dozen other people wounded.
The terrible incidents were varied and spread over a wide area, reminding us that what should be a safe and pleasant community can be very dangerous at times.
It is, of course, against the law to commit acts of violence against innocent individuals, and we are aghast at such behavior. This is a community of homes and families, where all our people should be able to expect personal safety, wherever they go.
But for a variety of reasons, conflicts break out between individuals or among groups. The illegal use of guns can, and obviously sadly does, often result in serious injuries and the loss of life, as was the case this weekend.
Ours should be a safe, secure community for all of our people, and it is certainly no place for anything resembling a “shootout at the OK Corral,” on the streets or anywhere.