I grew up in one of those towns. We had a grain mill, barber shop, butcher / grocer, post office, gas station (w/a still in the back), 2 churches (1 baptist of course) and most importantly a volunteer fire dept. where we had our most important event of the year...a fish fry & tomato fight. We had tons of guns, had no seatbelts or helmets and road around in the back of pu trucks. And yet, no one died.