"Really? There seems to be gunfire erupting downtown almost every weekend lately.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=31033"

You know it's funny that you posted that link because if you actually READ the article it says:

"Assaults lowest in five years

Although the recent incidents have alarmed some downtown business owners, police statistics show that serious crime is declining in the retail core. Aggravated assaults — the category that includes shootings — are at the lowest level in five years downtown."

If this is a war zone then what were things like 5 years ago? Armageddon?