The question was simple but unsettling: Will the recent string of shootings at events long considered safe—county fairs, downtown celebrations, even daytime gatherings—change how people live their lives?

Nearly 300 readers responded, and their answers painted a sobering portrait of fear, frustration, and resignation in a state where firearms are nearly everywhere.

Together, the voices reveal three broad themes: a profound change in personal behavior, a simmering anger at politicians and culture, and a stubborn belief that society has lost its way.

Living With Fear

The most immediate theme to emerge was practical: many people already avoid large crowds. The Cuyahoga and Summit county fair shootings, followed by wild gunfire in the Flats after Sunday’s Browns game, were cited again and a

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