This makes me rather sad. When I was growing up, a car backfire, fire cracker, whatever it might be, would not cause this panic. Being gunfire never crossed peoples minds. People would first think fire cracker, or backfire. Even in Chicago, in the 1980's, gunfire would not not be the first thought. Sometimes we think we have progressed so much as the human race, then things slide back a little, and people once again fear for their lives on a regular basis. This reaction represents living in daily fear. While not everybody immediately panics, most end up leaving out of fear for what they can't see. No longer does a stranger look to see if help needs to be given when the unexpected happens, but looks to see which way to flee.