I still have family in New Orleans (River Ridge area and Pearl River, MS) and some in Donaldsonville. My wife loves New Orleans. I love New Orleans.
But you're absolutely right. I have no desire to go visit. I have no desire to go downtown. To a Saints game. To the Quarter. To Bourbon Street. To Mardi Gras. To anything.
Because you're probably going to get shot or mugged.
Same thing in Birmingham. Lakeview District? Five Points? Fuck that. I've got other places to hang out.
I get what you're saying, but "probably"?
When you look at how many people are in the quarter on any given day, especially on an event like Halloween, you're probably statistically more likely to get shot to death in Omaha, Nebraska.
Did a lot of going out in Lakeview and Five Points in my days in Birmingham and never once felt threatened at all. Same here. Of course, I pretty much never go to the quarter, and I'd probably change my thoughts on it had I been at one of these shootings last night.