Times are no more tense than they ever were. The world is always on thin ice and has been for a few thousand years. The difference is the 24/7 news cycle and the constant barrage of BS and propaganda on TV. The folks that run it have agenda's and keeping people dumb and suppressing doing your own thinking is a large part of that IMO. They have created a culture of fear in modern America. The smarter we get in some things the less willing so many of us are to actually open our eyes and look around us. Mental robots are easy to control.
Throw in folks that are just plain stupid and you have to laugh to keep from crying.
Personally I think this is a new reason to get a high lift. Who needs a dash cam when you have a fully loaded assault jack on the hood!
Next they'll put a limit on how many times you can pump the handle. High capacity jacks are a hazard to society. Bets on whether NY or CA is the 1st to outlaw High Lifts!