This is one of many reasons why running around in a mask with no identification is a recipe for disaster and tragedy, especially with a nation that has more guns than people.
Plus, what's to stop a bunch of terrorists from dressing up like ICE and doing whatever they want?
Not so sure about that, some certainly would, but even if it was disregarded by everyone, people are way too comfortable and complacent to give up their relative safety to start an actual war.
I am very skeptical of the notion we are anywhere near an actual shooting war despite all the turmoil. Both sides would have waaaay too much to lose, especially red states, which derive huge amounts of funding from blue states (basically, blue states provide federal revenue while red states tend to use it up).
At the moment at least, people have too high a degree of comfort to actually get off their asses and start physically fighting. Things would probably have to get a lot worse before we really see that happen.
I have some experience in the ballpark of what you're referring to and would say it's somewhat situational: For example, I never used to think twice about joggers but after I started doing Muay Thai every time I hear footsteps closing in fast behind me I get an adrenaline dump.
One time I almost decked a jogger who passed real close, but as I was pivoting to bob, jab, and jump back outside of their range, I actually saw them and my hand went from a fist to a wave. I don't think they even realized what almost happened, but I felt so fucking stupid.
I even quit wearing headphones when going for walks to prevent getting startled like that, but I guess the flip side is that I'm more difficult to jump now (which was kind of the goal of learning MT in the first place).
First responder training/experience can also make you hypervigilant when it comes to certain things, so I think it's more fair to say, it just changes what can provoke the gasp/startle response.
The mere accusation causing someone to lose the Internet, which is vital to modern life, would be insane.
Additionally, it would do little to nothing to stop piracy.