I've had to tell people that their apartment building was engulfed in flames before because they simply had no idea. And after they walked outside and saw that five doors down the whole building was on fire, flames shooting into the sky and a bakers dozen fire trucks and ambulances were right outside their door.....I had to answer the question of whether they really had to leave.
So no, I don't put much stock in the fact that the lady buying Oreos in the grocery section didn't know that there was a dude with a gun in sporting goods.
Heck, when I'm forced to shop at Wal-Mart I keep my head down and avoid eye contact too. How embarrassing would it be to have someone you know recognize you and know you shop there? I'd have to come up with some lame excuse like, "Oh no. I'm not shopping.....I'm just here to meet a midget prostitute. He should be here any minute." Anything would be better than being known as a Wal-Mart customer.
