I totally get what you mean about the bus crash. People in general have no concept of how many people die in traffic accidents compared to all the wacky things the media goes nuts over. It's very sad.

The persecution thing seems most likely response, knowing the FLDS churches in general. They already have the attitude that they're woefully oppressed by the rest of the world - it's pretty much built into their world-view, from what I've read. I'm just glad I love in the northern part of the west coast - we get lots of normal Latter Day Saints folks, but most of the real crazies are farther south, or up in Canada.